Nursery World - Get in touch (1)

Early years staff will find it easier to empathise with distressed children and their families if they are emotionally literate, say members of the Camden Early Years Intervention Team One of the most valuable skills an early years practitioner can possess is that of being emotionally literate. Emotional literacy (also known as emotional intelligence) is described by Elizabeth Morris in Insight Pre-School as the practice of being aware of, understanding and managing emotional states in both oneself and other people. It is about developing strategies for adjusting our emotional state to a comfortable level of intensity so we can remain productively engaged in our surroundings (Berk, 1994).

One of the most valuable skills an early years practitioner can possess is that of being emotionally literate. Emotional literacy (also known as emotional intelligence) is described by Elizabeth Morris in Insight Pre-School as the practice of being aware of, understanding and managing emotional states in both oneself and other people. It is about developing strategies for adjusting our emotional state to a comfortable level of intensity so we can remain productively engaged in our surroundings (Berk, 1994).

It is also the ability to read body language, to place yourself in other's shoes for that moment and to be an active listener in order to respond appropriately to others.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included