Children experience emotions just as strongly as we do. They look to us for strength, guidance and wisdom. We teach our children how to read and write, but when it comes to their feelings… we leave them in the dark.
We need to give our children the tools to transform fear into compassion, anger into passion, loss into love... Change begins with our children.
--Campaign for Emotional Literacy
The website kidnewsroom.org published a page about emotional literacy. It states that,
"Becoming emotionally literate is learning the alphabet, grammar and vocabulary of our emotional life. In a world where academic literacy is increasingly the norm and other literacies, such as technological and computer, are expected, emotional literacy must become commonplace in order for human beings to grow, evolve and face the challenges of the future.
A major contributing factor to many of the problems in modern society is unawareness of the key role played by emotions. Emotional Literacy is a positive preventive tool, which properly understood, can assist society in solving many of its ills.
The capacity to deal with emotions positively is an essential element of good health. The direct connection between good health and the emotional state of a person is well documented.
Dysfunctional relationships on all levels are destroying individuals, families and whole communities. Emotional Literacy will support families and permit them to grow as individuals while sustaining a close bonded relationship."
Below is a chart from the Nurturing Programme detailing the effects of emotional health, which can be achieved through emotional literacy.