Emotional Literacy Belongs in Schools Too
There are many examples of individual schools in the United States, the UK and even in Australia, that deliver emotional intelligence curriculum to students simply because they have been fortunate enough to have the human and financial resources (and sometimes support from a University). This video example (is a) reminder of how and why a school uses emotional literacy to improve educational outcomes and the school environment. Read full article
Empathy and Yawning – Lessons from Chimpanzees
Like you, there are certain topics I often wonder about – one of them is why yawning is contagious. I remember reading a theory somewhere suggesting that yawning allows more oxygen into our lungs and the contagious response is because our brain automatically assumes that if someone else is yawing, there’s a shortage of oxygen and we need to respond accordingly! Could that be true? It was the best explanation I’d read … until today. Read full article
Why Australia Needs Emotional Intelligence in the Curriculum Podcast
Yvette Vignando is interviewed on ABC 702 Radio Sydney by Sarah MacDonald about why Australia needs Emotional Intelligence in the national school curriculum. What is Emotional Intelligence? How can Emotional Intelligence be taught in school? What is the academic benefit of social and emotional learning? Read full article
Happy Children – Secrets of How They Think
Interviews with children about how they view their lives and the world around them. Elizabeth Gould, conducted wide-ranging interviews and now tells the children’s stories and reveals four distinct patterns of how these happy children think. Even though these happy children face all the usual ups and downs of childhood, including bullying and family issues, they have found a way to be happy and stay happy. Read full article
Emotional Intelligence Why It Can Matter More Than IQ
Book: Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman. Goleman argues that our view of human intelligence is far too narrow, and that our emotions play a far greater role in thought, decision making and individual success than is commonly acknowledged. He shows precisely how emotional intelligence can be nurtured and strengthened in all of us. And because emotional lessons a child learns actually sculpt the brain’s circuitry, he provides detailed guidance as to how parents and schools can benefit from this. Read full article
What Do You Most Want For Your Children?
One of the main reasons I changed careers (from lawyer to executive coaching and now parenting publishing) was because I became a parent. I loved many things about being a lawyer, but there were a few other things pressing on my mind and heart …I read Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence, Why It Can Matter More than IQ and felt instantly that the ideas in that book represented the path to what I wanted most for our children: happiness and fulfilment, people to love them and people for them to love. Read full article
Meditation for Children
CD: Meditation for Children by Drs Ian and Ruth Gawler. The authors have a long experience of teaching meditation for health and well-being. Here they turn their knowledge to helping children with this invaluable activity which will teach them how to be in tune with themselves and the world in general. Meditation provides a practical tool to relax children and help them to manage stress and change in their lives. Read full article
Learned Optimism
Book: Learned Optimism by Martin Seligman. An authority on positive psychology and motivation writes about the positive effects of optimism on the quality of life and provides a program of specific exercises designed to break the pessimism habit and help with depression, while developing an optimistic outlook. Read full article
We Can Get Along
Book: "We Can Get Along" by Lauren Payne. This book teaches essential skills – think before you speak or act, treat others the way you want to be treated – in a way that even very young children can understand. There is a focus on kindness and respect, tolerance and responsibility. Through pictures and words, this book promotes peaceful behaviours and positive conflict resolution. Read full article
White Ribbon Day – Sticks, Stones, Words and Children
November 25th is White Ribbon Day. I just wanted to add my small voice to this campaign. I read on the White Ribbon Day site that "In Australia, one in three women will be assaulted or abused in her lifetime. These women are our mothers, our girlfriends, our wives, our daughters, our colleagues and our friends." I read that and I can hardly imagine it is true, yet I know it is. And I also think of the children that are witnessing physical and verbal abuse in their homes every day. And I think of the effect of children bearing witness to this. Read full article
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