Building Emotional Intelligence in Young People

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand and manage emotions — both our own and those of others. It plays a key role in confidence, friendships, resilience and mental wellbeing.

Children with strong emotional intelligence are better equipped to:

• Understand what they’re feeling and why

• Communicate emotions calmly and clearly

• Navigate conflict and relationships

• Develop empathy and self-awareness

Creative and reflective activities help build emotional intelligence naturally. For example:

• Creating art that represents emotions

• Acting out scenarios through role play

• Writing or drawing reflections about daily experiences

At The Lollipop Trust, emotional intelligence is woven into everything we do — not taught as a lesson, but nurtured through creativity, conversation and connection.