Emotional intelligence (EI) is a vital skill that helps children build meaningful relationships, manage emotions, and navigate life’s ups and downs. Teaching EI early on equips kids with tools for empathy, resilience, and effective communication. Reading is one of the most effective—and enjoyable—ways to develop emotional intelligence. Here are four actionable strategies to help your child boost emotional intelligence through reading.

1. Build Empathy by Discussing the Character’s Perspective

Books allow children to see the world through someone else’s eyes, which is key to developing empathy. By diving into a character’s world, children can learn to understand and relate to feelings and experiences beyond their own.

• Pause to Ask Questions

  Help your child put themselves into the character’s shoes by asking questions like, “How do you think the character felt here?” or “What would you have done if you were in this situation?” These questions help your child reflect on the feelings of others and how they might handle a similar experience.

• Explore Diverse Stories

  Choose books featuring characters from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. This exposure teaches children to appreciate differences and see our common emotions.

Reading stories with relatable and diverse characters helps children view emotions as universal, fostering a more empathetic worldview.

2. Increase Your Child’s Self-Awareness

When kids read about characters facing challenges, they better understand their own emotions. Stories introduce them to an emotional vocabulary they can use to express their own feelings.

• Discuss Feelings as They Arise

  Ask your child, “Have you ever felt this way?” or “What might you do if this happened to you?” This will help connect the characters’ emotions to their personal experiences.

• Use Visual Tools

  Incorporate an emotion wheel or mood meter to help children identify and name emotions. For example, ask, “What color or section of the wheel matches how the character feels?”

By reflecting on characters’ emotions and connecting them to their own, children can better understand and articulate their feelings.

3. Help Your Child Relate to Characters’ Challenges

Books with relatable characters give children a sense of connection and comfort. Seeing characters face and overcome challenges reassures kids that they are not alone in their struggles.

• Match Stories to Your Child’s Experiences

  If your child is starting a new school or having trouble making new friends, find books that explore these situations, such as A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey. Books about characters overcoming hardships can help your child navigate their fears.

• Encourage Reflection

  After reading, ask, “What did the character learn from this experience?” or “Do you think the character handled their challenge in a positive way?” These conversations help kids apply the story’s lessons to their own lives.

Relatable stories help children build coping strategies and gain confidence in handling similar situations.

4. Highlight Character Growth to Teach Resilience

Books often show characters evolving and learning from their experiences. Discussing this growth with your child teaches them that challenges and accompanying emotions are part of personal development.

• Celebrate Positive Change

  Point out moments when characters grow, such as learning to forgive or becoming more confident. Discuss how challenges shaped their growth.

• Connect to Real Life

  Encourage your child to share a time they learned from a difficult experience. Ask, “What did you learn from that moment?” or “How might the character handle challenges differently now?”

Learning about resilience through stories shows children that setbacks can lead to growth and strength.

Conclusion: Building Emotional Intelligence, One Story at a Time

Using books to develop emotional intelligence is a powerful way to help your child understand their emotions and connect with others. By encouraging empathy, self-awareness, and resilience through reading, you’re laying the foundation for lifelong emotional skills.

Start exploring these strategies today, and if you need additional support, Savvy’s expert tutors are here to help. Our personalized programs make learning fun and engaging while helping children develop literacy and emotional intelligence. Take a free assessment to see how we can help your child thrive!

An easy way to expand empathy is to start on common ground. Have your child choose and read books that have characters they can relate to. This will help them feel less alone in some of their own troubles and learn how to solve problems. Through reading, they’ll also find characters that maybe they can’t relate to, which is a great growth opportunity. Discuss these different characters and see what common traits they have. 

Ready to make reading an exciting and rewarding part of your child’s life? Sign up for a trial session today and see the Savvy Learning difference for yourself!