The beginning of emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence begins in toddlerhood. As your child learns to express their needs, they also start to understand the feelings of others.
Through storytelling, pretend play and everyday conversation, you can teach empathy naturally. Label emotions “You’re sad because the toy broke” to help your child recognize and regulate their own feelings.
Children who learn empathy early are better communicators and collaborators later in school.
Between the ages of 1 and 2, your toddler begins to experience and express a wide range of emotions like happiness, frustration, excitement, even jealousy. This stage is the perfect time to start teaching emotional awareness and empathy.
At Ryan International Pre-Montessori schools, we believe emotional learning is the heart of early education. Before a child learns letters or numbers, they must first learn to understand and manage feelings both of their own and others. Empathy builds kindness, cooperation, and strong communication which forms a strong foundation of lifelong social and emotional success.
Why emotional awareness matters
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is just as important as IQ. It helps children:
● Identify and name feelings (“I’m sad”, “I’m happy”, “I’m angry”).
● Understand that others have emotions too.
● Develop self-control and problem-solving skills.
● Build compassion and positive relationships.
When children are emotionally aware, they are better equipped to handle challenges, express themselves calmly and connect meaningfully with others, which proves to be very essential qualities for success in school and life.
How toddlers begin to show empathy
Toddlers are naturally observant. Around 18 months, you may notice your child trying to comfort someone crying, offering a toy to a friend or mimicking your tone of voice. These early signs show that empathy is developing. Through everyday interactions, you can help this growth blossom. Emotional learning begins when parents model kindness, speak about feelings openly and treat their child’s emotions with respect.
How Ryan International Pre-Montessori builds emotional confidence
Our Pre-Montessori environment is designed to support emotional as well as intellectual growth. Group storytime, collaborative games and reflective discussions encourage empathy and cooperation.
Children are guided to express themselves through art, music and movement that help release big emotions in healthy ways. By the time they transition to preschool, Ryan learners carry not just curiosity and skill, but kindness and confidence too.
Simple ways to build empathy and emotional awareness at home.
Here are gentle, Montessori-inspired ways to nurture emotional growth in your toddler:
1 Name emotions out loud
When your child feels something, describe it. For example, “You’re sad because you got hurt” or “You look excited to go outside.” This helps toddlers connect words to feelings.
2 Read picture books about feelings
Stories are powerful empathy tools. Books help children recognize emotions through characters and colorful illustrations.
3 Use a feelings chart
Create a simple chart with happy, sad, angry and surprised faces. Ask, “Which face are you today?” This visual aid builds self-awareness and communication skills.
4 Model empathy daily
Children learn by imitation. Say things like, “Daddy looks tired, let’s help him,” or “The dog is thirsty, let’s give water.” Your actions become their lessons.
5 Encourage pretend play
Role-playing with dolls, puppets or animals helps toddlers explore emotions safely and understand others’ perspectives. Helping your toddler understand and express their emotions is crucial for developing empathy and social skills.
These activities may seem small, but over time they build emotional vocabulary, compassion, and confidence needed before preschool.
The Montessori Way: emotions in action
In Montessori learning environments, emotional growth is intertwined with independence and respect. At Ryan Pre-Montessori, our educators create calm, responsive classrooms where every feeling is acknowledged and validated. Teachers model patience and empathy, guiding toddlers to express emotions appropriately not by suppressing feelings, but by managing them. Through cooperative play and storytelling, children learn how kindness and respect make learning joyful.
Parent tips:
● Listen actively: When your child talks or gestures, pause and truly listen.
● Validate feelings: Instead of “Don’t cry,” try “I see you’re upset.” validation builds trust.
● Set gentle boundaries: Teach acceptable behavior without shaming emotions.
● Model calmness: Your response teaches your toddler how to respond to others.
● Praise kindness: Reinforce positive social behavior with appreciation.
