Teach Inclusivity to Students Through Social Intelligence

February 3, 2023 byConnections Academy

6 min to read

Students Gathering in a Social Environment

Rules like “bring enough to share with everyone” and “make sure everyone gets a turn” may help set the groundwork for living an inclusive life, but they aren’t always enough to instill social intelligence for kids.

Currently, racial and gender disparities exist in numerous areas, from economic opportunities to healthcare access. To help lessen and even remove these disparities, people in just about every field are working to be more inclusive. The future your child will enter won’t just be diverse, it will be more inclusive and reward those who are inclusive themselves.

So, how do you ensure your child is inclusive today and will continue to be inclusive in the world ahead? One great method is to help your child develop social intelligence.

Here’s what you need to know:

What Is Social Intelligence?

Social intelligence (or social IQ) is best described as a person’s social smarts. Those with social intelligence are socially adept, meaning they understand what people are feeling and thinking and are aware of how their own words and actions are affecting those around them.

This level of awareness allows socially intelligent people to connect with others quickly and build meaningful relationships. It also leads them to be more inclusive, as their keen understanding of others inspires them to see all people as equally valuable.

Characteristics of Those with Social Intelligence

Social intelligence is best understood as a collection of core characteristics. These include:

Empathy

Perhaps the most important characteristic of social intelligence, empathy underpins the ability to perceive people’s thoughts and emotions. Those who are empathetic not only understand what someone else is feeling, they can relate to those feelings, making them more adept at responding to them.

Even-Temperedness

Getting angry with others can ruin the opportunity to build meaningful relationships. But for those with social intelligence, being even-tempered isn’t a means to an end. Rather, it allows them to see situations with calm clarity and to better interpret others’ wants and fears.

Reflectiveness

Thinking about social interactions after they happen can make the next interaction go even better. When people are reflective, they learn and give themselves the opportunity to grow. Those with social intelligence rarely miss such opportunities.

Good Listening

Understanding others isn’t just a matter of attuned perceptions—it also requires paying attention to what they say and how they say it. Truly listening and responding to what they hear—instead of just saying whatever they want to say—is one of the main ways those with social intelligence are able to make and maintain strong connections.

Good Timing

Knowing what to say and when to say it is very important when making a new connection or continuing a long relationship. Those with social intelligence are good at timing their responses, whether they’re making a joke or remaining silent.

The Benefits of Social Intelligence

The ability to build meaningful relationships gives those with social intelligence a leg up, helping them succeed in the workplace and in life in general. In fact, research shows that those with high social intelligence are natural leaders. They can even inspire a positive neurological response in others.

No matter what your child wants to do in life, having social intelligence will help them get ahead. That’s why it’s so important that you help them develop it.

How to Teach Social Intelligence

Social intelligence may seem like something people naturally have or don’t have. But it’s actually a skill that can be taught. As with many things, the earlier in life that someone learns the skill, the better, which is why you should be working with your child on their social intelligence skills as soon as you can.

Fortunately, social intelligence for kids is quite similar to social intelligence for adults. That means children are receptive to lessons about social intelligence and have the ability to develop all the associated characteristics referenced above. And, remember, the benefits of social intelligence aren’t just about having good social interactions; they’re about being more inclusive too.

Here are the core principles to focus on when teaching children to be socially intelligent.

Be a Strong Role Model

Teaching doesn’t always mean sitting down in a formal learning environment. Parents also teach through their actions. In your day-to-day life, make sure you’re modeling social intelligence. In particular, focus on showing empathy. Your behavior is one of the top ways children learn to be empathetic, so take time to openly show concern and compassion for others.

Talk About Their Own Emotions

Responding appropriately to others begins with understanding ourselves and our own reactions to situations. To help your child build self-awareness about their emotions, you should often ask them what they’re feeling and why they think they’re feeling that way. These conversations may be difficult if your child is a teenager, but there are ways to deal with teen emotions that will help you continue to be supportive of their emotional development.

Teach Conflict-Resolution Skills

Conflict will always be a part of life, but it’s how we handle conflict that makes the difference. Even if your child isn’t facing a specific conflict right now, they certainly have in the past—and you can use it as a learning opportunity. When teaching conflict resolution to children, keep it simple. Explain that, the moment a conflict appears, the best course of action is to stop escalating, acknowledge a conflict exists, respect the opinion of those you disagree with, think of positive, fair solutions, and choose an option everyone can agree upon.

Ensure They Know How to Listen

Children are notorious for not always paying attention. But that doesn’t mean they can’t learn to be better listeners. If you notice your child’s attention drifting when having a conversation with them, pause occasionally and ask them to explain what the conversation is about and what you are actually saying to them. This can help them understand the value of truly listening and ensure they think about listening the next time they’re having a conversation.

Instill Good Manners

While having good manners doesn’t make a person socially intelligent, good manners do provide a solid foundation for positive social interactions. Teaching children simple habits like looking someone in the eyes when they speak to them, using “please” and “thank you,” and addressing someone by the title or name they prefer will help your child understand how important it is to treat others kindly. Even teaching your child to write thank-you notes can be beneficial in their development of social intelligence.

How You Can Do More as a Parent

If you want to be more involved in your child’s daily life so that you have more opportunity to teach them social intelligence and the value of inclusion, you may want to consider online school. At a high-quality online school like Connections Academy, you are empowered to help your child learn and grow in a way that’s not typically available at traditional, in-person schools.

Social intelligence and inclusivity are both incredibly important to success in life. Your presence in your child’s learning journey can help ensure they develop the skills they need for the world they will be entering. To learn more about how you can help your child thrive, check out our tips to improve social and emotional well-being.