Happier, healthier, smarter kids.

November 13, 2023

According to Psychology Today emotional intelligence (also known as emotional quotient or EQ) is the ability to identify and manage your emotions, as well as the emotions of others. 


It includes skills such as emotional awareness, which is the ability to notice and name your emotions, the ability to harness those emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving, and the ability to regulate your emotions (when necessary) and help others do the same.   


The development of emotional intelligence is a hugely important life skill for children and at Little Hands Early Learning Centre children are proactively and deliberately taught emotional intelligence skills in every aspect of their childcare day. 

We spoke to Ellen Perkins the owner of Little Hands ELC to learn more. 


Ellen trained in psychology and found her way into early education following a trauma that caused her to reevaluate her priorities and leave a lucrative career in property development to refocus on psychology, more specifically positive psychology in early education. 

After thoroughly researching EQ, Ellen started running workshops for parents in early learning centres and created a book of feelings for children called Real Feels. 


Then came COVID and, following a period of deep reflection, Ellen and her partner John, decided that running an early learning centre would be the best way to extend Ellen’s passion for supporting children and families to develop greater emotional awareness.   

Little Hands is an 88-place centre on a quiet hilltop in Southport Queensland, with a team of 15 educators who are inducted to the world of emotional intelligence by completing Ellen’s EQ Advantage Workshop. 


Through completing the workshop educators learn the skills to teach children emotional intelligence by developing their self-awareness and emotional regulation and through providing them with the tools and strategies they need to turn challenges into positive learning experiences. 

“What a lot of people don’t know is that there is a direct link between emotional intelligence, and academic success, healthy relationships and a happy life. 

What is also little understood is that we are not born with emotional intelligence but it is a very learnable skill,” said Ellen.   

Ellen says that while the concept of EQ has been around for 20 years or so, it is fairly new to the education sector and she is not aware of any other early learning centre dedicated to emotional intelligence. 

“I am fascinated in the development of a child’s self-awareness, as all effective learning stems from this. 

When a child pays attention to their feelings they are more in tune with their environment, they are more open to experiencing the world, they know how to stay safe and when to take smart risks, and their brains are switched on to what inspires them, which helps them discover the path they were destined for.” 


Teaching emotional intelligence on a daily basis 

Development of children’s self-awareness and emotional intelligence is incorporated into the daily practice at Little Hands in a variety of ways. This includes: 

  • Emotion coaching, which is the concept of using a child’s difficult feelings as opportunities to connect with empathy, develop their awareness of their feelings, and help them problem solve. 
  • Emotion modelling, which is when educators act as a role model for healthy emotional regulation and expression of feelings. Educators know that children learn a lot by observing how the adults around them manage their own feelings, and how they interact with the world. You could call it teaching by being. 
  • Educators regularly spend time talking about different feelings and reading feeling books. They discuss what happy, mad, sad emotions feel like in the body and in doing this they teach children that all feelings are normal. They also share ideas on how to manage difficult feelings in a healthy way. 
  • Meditation and yoga programs to raise children’s awareness of the messages their body is sending them and so they can learn how to calm themselves when they’re overstimulated. 
  • Visits by the centre’s wellness dog in training, Charlie. Therapy dogs are scientifically proven way to calm children down, reduce anxiety, build feelings of trust and raise spirits and Charlie visits twice per week. 


Tackling common challenges 

Ellen says that while emotional intelligence is of great benefit to children, it is also hugely helpful to mums and dads, especially as they come face-to-face with some of the common challenges of parenting. 

“Probably the biggest challenge for parents of pre-school children (and any-aged children!) is getting their kid to listen. Parents often report they feel frustrated and exhausted, after repeating the same instructions over and over again. I was very much one of these parents.” 

Ellen says there are two points parents should keep in mind when faced with a child who is not listening (or one of the other challenges): 

1. Remember, you’re not alone 

2. There is always a solution 

“Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook and all parents are just learning on the run. I cover this in my workshops where we break down patterns and teach parents strategies to help them manage challenging behaviours.” 

Ellen says emotional awareness also helps 

“Emotional awareness is being aware of your feelings, as you feel them. It may sound simple but only about 33 per cent of people can accurately name their emotions as they are experiencing them. Emotional awareness also means awareness of how other people are feeling, i.e. having empathy. 

“When you have empathy, you can put yourself in your child’s shoes and respond to their emotions in a way that makes them feel safe and loved. 

“In other words, you become their go-to person when they are feeling mad or sad, because they know you will help them feel good again. 

“Emotional awareness really is the keystone to healthy relationships and a peaceful home.” 


Emotional intelligence...it’s never too early to learn.

BY BONNIE LAXTON-BLINKHORN, KINDICARE


Source:  https://kindicare.com/parenting-tips/happier-healthier-smarter-kids





June 13, 2024
As the year draws to a close, it is vital to pause and reflect on your journey and relationships in your personal lives and careers. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for introspection, helping us understand our core nature and facilitating personal growth as we work towards a better version of ourselves. Whether you’re evaluating your work-life balance , personal development , or career progression , self-reflection can be incredibly empowering and beneficial for your overall well-being. The value of reflection and introspection Harnessing the power of reflection As we approach the end of the year, taking the time to reflect on the past twelve months is not just a ritual but a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Reflection allows us to pause in our fast-paced lives and examine our experiences, decisions, and actions. It allows us to celebrate our successes, learn from our mistakes, and acknowledge our growth areas. By looking back, we gain valuable insights that empower us to approach the future with a more informed and intentional mindset. Understanding ourselves better Introspection is a vital component of self-reflection. It involves diving deep into our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This process helps us understand why we do what we do, what drives our decisions, and how our actions align with our core values and goals. Understanding ourselves better is crucial for personal development and helps us make more authentic and aligned choices in the future. Setting the stage for future success Reflecting on the past year sets the foundation for setting realistic and meaningful goals for the new year. It helps us identify what we truly want, what areas need more attention, and what strategies worked or didn’t work. This clarity is essential for setting goals that are both ambitious and achievable and aligned with our personal and professional aspirations. Promoting well-being and reducing stress The act of reflection can be therapeutic. It allows us to process our experiences, both positive and negative, and can lead to a greater sense of peace and closure. This is especially important in today’s world, where we often rush from one task to another without taking the time to process our experiences. Reflecting on the year helps us close chapters, reduce stress, and approach the new year with renewed energy and optimism. Fostering continuous learning and adaptability The world is constantly changing, and adaptability has become a crucial skill. Reflecting on how we’ve navigated changes in the past year, both expected and unexpected, prepares us for future uncertainties. It reinforces continuous learning and adapting, essential in personal and professional contexts. Year-end review: 10 questions for self-reflection Here are 10 thought-provoking questions to guide your year-end reflection. These questions cover various aspects of your life, including work experiences, personal growth, work-life balance, and future aspirations. As you answer them, be honest and consider writing down your responses for a more tangible record of your thoughts and goals. Sample answers help guide and inspire you as you reflect upon your year. These example answers provide a glimpse into the kind of introspection and planning that can result from such reflective questions, helping you assess your current state and set meaningful goals for the future. 1. Best and worst work experiences What were your best and worst work experiences in the last 12 months? Be specific about projects, teams, roles, and activities. Sample answers Best: Leading a successful project launch, mentoring a new team member, and receiving positive client feedback. Worst: Facing a project delay due to miscommunication, struggling with a software tool, and experiencing a stressful team conflict. 2. Job success and satisfaction elements Can you identify three elements of your job that contributed to your success and satisfaction? Conversely, what three elements hindered your success and fulfilment? Sample answers Positive: Collaborative team environment, challenging tasks that foster learning, and recognition from management. Negative: Limited resources, unclear company direction, and infrequent feedback. 3. Skills development What five skills, talents, or pursuits would you like to develop or attain in the next 12 months? Sample answers Improve public speaking, learn advanced data analysis, enhance leadership skills, develop a new programming language, and cultivate creative problem-solving techniques. 4. Passion in work What topics in your work can you talk about non-stop? Does this energise you consistently? Is this your passion or something else? Sample answers I am passionate about designing user interfaces. Discussing design trends and user experience energises me and is a significant part of my job satisfaction. 5. Unachieved goals What’s one significant goal you didn’t achieve in the last 12 months, and why? How would you change the outcome? Sample answers I aimed to get a professional certification but couldn’t due to time constraints. I plan to manage my time better and enrol in a course next year. 6. Fearless ambitions What would you aim to achieve in the coming year if you knew you couldn’t fail? Sample answers If I knew I couldn’t fail, I would aim to start my own tech startup focusing on innovative educational tools. 7. Role evaluation How would you rate your current role out of 100%? What factors prevent you from reaching 100%, and how can you overcome them? Sample answers I’d rate my role at 75%. To reach 100%, I need more creative freedom and opportunities for professional development. With these, I could be fully satisfied. 8. Future aspirations Without any limitations, what experiences, skills, activities, and responsibilities would you like to have in the future? List up to 12. Sample answers Lead larger projects, develop expertise in AI, participate in international conferences, mentor others, work abroad, achieve work-life balance, publish industry articles, learn a new language, adopt sustainable work practices, engage in CSR initiatives, explore different company roles, and start a professional blog. 9. Personal growth and development How have you grown personally over the past year? What personal qualities or habits have you developed, and what would you like to work on? Sample answers I’ve become more resilient and patient over the years. I want to work on my time management and stress management skills. 10. Challenges and overcoming obstacles Reflect on the biggest challenge you faced this year. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn? Sample answers My biggest challenge was adapting to remote work. I overcame it by creating a structured daily routine, investing in a better home office setup, and improving my digital communication skills. Reflect to grow Remember, the purpose of these questions is not just to reflect on what has been but also to pave a path for what lies ahead. By understanding where you currently stand and identifying your goals and aspirations, you can approach the new year with clarity, purpose, and a renewed sense of direction. Source: https://www.pagepersonnel.com.au/advice/career-and-management/success/self-reflection-questions-for-career-growth
June 13, 2024
Both job enlargement and job enrichment are human resource strategies used to improve employees engagement and increase efficiency that helps to achieve organizational more effectively. Job enlargement refers to increase tasks and responsibilities to the existing role of the employees. On the other hand, job enrichment is a technique of motivating employees by adding extra responsibilities to make job more challenging and meaningful. Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment The main dissimilarities between job enrichment and job enlargement are as follows: 1. Introduction Job Enlargement: It involves increasing the number of tasks and duties to be performed by workers to an existing role. Job Enrichment: It involves increasing responsibilities and content in the job to increase challenges and scope that provides opportunity for growth. 2. Nature Job Enlargement: It is purely quantitative in nature because number of tasks are increased for employees. Job Enrichment: It is qualitative in nature. It means this technique is used to increase the content and quality of the job. 3. Objective Job Enlargement: The main objective of job enlargement is to increase employee motivation and engagement by decreasing monotony and boredom. Job Enrichment: The main objective of job enrichment is to promote growth and development by making jobs more challenging and exciting. 4. Additional Skill Job Enlargement: It does not require additional skill because tasks are increased as per the qualification and ability of employees. Job Enrichment: It requires some additional skills because it involves new responsibilities that require creativity, decision making and problem solving. 5. Authority Job Enlargement: It does not increase the level of authority as it only increases the number of tasks. Job Enrichment: It increases the level of authority as per the creativity and ability of employees. 6. Supervision And Control Job Enlargement: It requires more supervision, direction and control because it increases the workload of employees that increases the chance of errors and mistakes. Job Enrichment: It requires less supervision and control than job enlargement because workers exercise self-control. 7. Training Need Job Enlargement: It does not require additional training because employees are familiar with the jobs and responsibilities. Job Enrichment: It may require additional training to empower workers to increase creativity, decision making and control over the job. 8. Result/Outcome Job Enlargement: Results may be positive or negative depending on the motivation level and workload of the employees. Job Enrichment: Generally, it gives positive result because of increased morale and self actualization. Basis Job Enlargement Job Enrichment Nature It is quantitative by nature It is qualitative by nature Objective To reduce boredom and monotony To promote growth and development Additional Skills Not Required Required Increase In Authority No Yes Outcome Positive Or Negative Positive Supervision And Control Requires more supervision Requires less supervision Distinction Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment In Brief * Job enlargement refers to quantitative expanding of jobs. But job enrichment is qualitative improvement of the job. * Job enlargement does not require special training, but job enrichment requires training and development program to improve the performance. * Job enlargement requires more supervision than job enrichment * Job enrichment increases the level of authority but job enlargement increases the number of tasks only. * Job enlargement is horizontal expansion of job and job enrichment is vertical expansion. * Job enlargement does not promote growth and development but job enrichment helps in personal growth and career development Source: https://marketinglord.blogspot.com/2024/05/difference-job-enlargement-job-enrichment.html
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