Fostering Emotional Intelligence in Young People
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage emotions in a healthy way. It helps young people build strong relationships, make wise choices, and handle life’s challenges. As a youth worker, you play a key role in teaching these skills.
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Why emotional intelligence matters
Emotions play a crucial role in how people think and act every day. So, developing emotional intelligence helps young people understand their emotions and choose their responses. Thus, they can make thoughtful choices and build meaningful relationships.
Youth programs should be safe spaces where young people feel comfortable expressing their emotions. You can easily find ways to create an emotionally supportive environment, no matter the type of programming you offer.
Here are some ideas to nurture an emotionally supportive environment:
- Encourage open communication – Allow young people to express feelings without fear of judgment.
- Practice active listening – Show understanding by making eye contact, nodding, and summarizing what they share.
- Validate emotions – Let them know it’s okay to feel sad, frustrated, or excited. And help them name their emotions. Naming emotions helps to bring awareness to these feelings and then choose how to respond.
- Set a positive example – Model healthy emotional expression and problem-solving strategies.
- Foster a sense of belonging – Create inclusive group activities where all voices are valued.
By promoting emotional safety, youth workers help young people build self-awareness and strengthen their social skills.
Teaching self-regulation and emotional awareness
Helping young people recognize and manage their emotions is an important part of fostering emotional intelligence. Self-regulation skills allow them to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively.
Here are some self-regulation strategies you can try:
- Introduce mindfulness techniques – Breathing exercises and grounding activities can help manage stress.
- Use emotion check-ins – Start group meetings with a quick “How are you feeling?” discussion.
- Teach "I feel" statements – Encourage phrases like “I feel frustrated when…” to promote healthy communication.
- Encourage reflection – Journaling or storytelling helps young people process emotions and learn from experiences.
- Provide coping strategies – Discuss healthy ways to handle anger, anxiety, or disappointment.
When young people understand their emotions and learn how to manage them, they feel more in control and prepared for challenges.
Developing empathy and social skills
Empathy is vital because it helps young people build strong relationships. Youth workers can encourage empathy by guiding discussions about feelings, perspectives, and kindness.
Ways to develop empathy and social skills:
- Role-play real-life scenarios – Practice resolving conflicts or supporting a friend in need.
- Encourage perspective-taking – Ask questions like, “How do you think they felt?” when discussing situations.
- Promote teamwork – Group projects and shared responsibilities build communication and cooperation.
- Engage in service projects – Volunteering and acts of kindness strengthen empathy and community awareness.
When young people develop empathy, they connect better with others and form genuine, lasting relationships.
Emotional intelligence is a skill that can shape a young person’s future. By learning how to manage emotions and show empathy, young people develop self-awareness, compassion, confidence, and resilience.
Youth workers play a vital role in helping young people build emotional intelligence. By creating a supportive environment, teaching self-regulation, and encouraging empathy, you equip them with essential life skills.
To learn more about cultivating emotional intelligence in young people, check out our training for youth workers, Mirroring and Modeling Social-Emotional Well-being for Youth.
About the author
Yedidya Erque is the operations associate of the Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA), a non-profit association of youth-serving organizations. We're your source for exceptional, affordable, personal and professional online learning via The Professional Youth Worker. Join us!
To ask Yedidya a question or share your feedback about this blog, email yedidya@yipa.org.
