With the new school year having arrived, parents and children have emotions running high with the back-to-school ban on cellphone use and dress codes in schools across America. Many young kids can only live with their smartphones and are engulfed with long hours of screen time. The controversy of banning phones and new studies reports on the dangers of screen time have many parents and children in a panic.
How can young children manage big emotions? Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel is an 8-year-old bilingual prodigy, emotional intelligence expert and author who has written multiple bestselling books, “The Angry Vacuum” and “Emotions Volcano, offering insight and tips to parents, teachers, administrators, and children.
He states that” higher levels of emotional intelligence are needed by both parents, teachers, administrators and children to foster understanding and collaborative problem-solving.” He continues, “Safety is the primary concern for everyone and allowing all children, parents and teachers to feel safer and foster a productive learning environment is the goal and a total ban of cellphone use would not be needed with respect to limitations on access during school hours with limited access for emergency use of phones to address parental safety concerns.” Emotional intelligence is needed in situations with four main components: self-awareness, empathy, self-regulation, social and, interpersonal communications, and awareness of the emotions of others. Here are 7 Tips that he offers for Coping:
Some tips that he offers for children when learning to cope with the challenges of going back to school are as follows:
- Parents, kids, and teachers must maintain a positive attitude and be willing to communicate and share feelings about issues and problems;
- Kids, Parents, and Teachers must be mindful of their emotions and others’ emotions,
Kids must practice and prepare to be ahead of their time schedule to adjust to life with limited access to cell phones: - Visualize yourself and the environment with less access to your cellphone and restrictions on dress code, bathroom monitoring, etc., and also visit the school ahead of time to allow yourself to be more comfortable;
- Develop a daily positive mantra like, ‘I am smart, I am confident, I can adapt to changes, I can learn from my mistakes. I appreciate and have gratitude for the positive things in my life.’
- Parents should validate your children’s emotions because they are natural and we all have them, and they make us human.
- Stop, Pause, Take Deep Breaths, and Think Before You Act can help you manage your emotions.
The key is understanding and being aware of our emotions and managing those emotions in difficult and stressful circumstances, says Sandra M. Clifton, co-founder of the Smart Brain Train Academy and the Emotional Intelligence Youth Leadership. “Adapting to changes is often stressful and that is why emotional intelligence is very important and a vital skill for adults and children to be able to resolve and manage emotions without flipping their lid,” says Jomo Gamal Thomas, illustrator, author and co-founder of PositiveandMindfulParenting.com.
About the Authors
Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel is the author of
The Emotions Volcano and the Angry Vacuum, features Laura and Sid, two superheroes with the unique ability to manage and transform big emotions and help other children manage their emotions.. The book teaches children that eruptions from anger, anxiety, stress are all natural emotions. These feelings should be validated and when children are self-aware of their emotions then they can learn coping strategies. Children and adults can learn to be mindful, take deep breaths,meditate, and express and share their feelings with their grownup.
Parents, teachers, and children ages 2 to 8 will find this books particularly relatable and helpful. It uses simple language and includes bilingual elements, making it accessible to a diverse audience. The tools provided within the story can help children learn to recognize and deal with their emotions effectively.
He is the CEO of Super Happy Kid Publishing, an imprint of the Smart Brain Train Academy, he has also developed innovative child behavioral development apps that empower parents and educators. Through his work, he aims to spread the message that with the right tools and support, anything is possible for neurodivergent learners.
If you’re interested in learning more books from Jomo Jesus on emotional intelligence for preschoolers, kindergartners, and elementary school children, then be sure to check out:
Amazon Kindle Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Angry-Vacuum-Emotions-Emotional-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B0DFWXZ5Q4/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DF32MB3Z/
Jomo Gamal Thomas is a versatile figure, serving as an author, illustrator, artist, attorney, entrepreneur, and game developer. He has developed children’s educational technology and emotional intelligence apps and co-founded Positive Peers Learning Software Partners, the Smart Brain Train Academy, ParentsHelpParents.com, and Positive and Mindful Parenting. Jomo has written “My First Bible for Kids” (Old Testament and New Testament). Inspired by his son, Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel, he has developed mindful education apps, visual social-emotional intelligence learning apps, and early social-emotional intelligence learning tools for children on the autism spectrum, ADHD, and ODD.
About the Editor
Sandra Clifton, MBA, is an educator, entrepreneur, software developer, and founder of the Clifton Academy in New Jersey. She co-founded Positive Peers Learning Software and the Smart Brain Train Academy. Sandra is also the co-author and developer of the EI and IQ Academy for Emotionally Intelligent Children and serves as the editor of “The Emotions Volcano” and “My First Bible for Kids.” Additionally, she co-founded ParentsHelpParents.com, ChangeChildBehavior.com, and Positive and Mindful Parenting Academy. She focuses on Emotional and Social Intelligence for young school children and parents and is a co-founder of the Emotional Intelligence Young Leaders Information Academy (EIYL Academy).
–Provided by the Smart Brain Train Academy
Media Contact
Sandra M. Clifton, MBA,
The Smart Brain Train Academy and Clifton Academy
+1 (732) 688-7813