A book on emotional intelligence has been launched in Accra with a call on Ghanaians to prioritise the psychological needs of children.
Titled “My Child My Future”, the book, authored by internationally certified emotional intelligence coach, Mr James Kwesi Addison, focuses on the emotional dynamics of children and helps in the understanding of building up relationships with children and helping them to build self-confidence and resilience.
The 76-page book also throws light on the need for parents, educators and caregivers to be emotionally intelligent in order to bring up children in a manner that would make them easily manage their emotions and those of others around them.
Consequently, the groundbreaking book is fashioned to ensure that even without a formal curriculum and education to draw on, caregivers would be able to play their role in nurturing children’s emotional intelligence competencies.
Launching it in Accra on Sunday, Dr Kwadwo Frimpong, a technical economic advisor, Office of the Vice President, described the time for the launching of the book as timely, saying one of the best ways to prepare children for life challenges was to help them build their emotional intelligence.
Emotionally intelligent children, he said, become balanced adults who could be managed rationally and calmly in complicated situations.
He explained that the ability of a child to identify and manage emotions could impact everything from his or her performance in the classroom to relationship with people, making emotional intelligence a critical stepping stone to success.
“Children who grow up in families that consciously take responsibility for building their emotional intelligence are encouraged to express their feelings. They are calmly answered to, and their opinions considered during decision making,” he added.
Dr Frimpong was of the view that the degree of emotional intelligence in the upbringing of children determined the degree of their success in all aspects of life and called on caregivers to consider that aspect of upbringing.
In his remarks, Mr Addison said with reference to all other areas so far of emotional intelligence, he decided to look at children first because “a mishandled child today was a recipe for a chaotic tomorrow” adding that his target audience were parents, educators and general caregivers.
He therefore called on the public to ensure they got copies of the books because children are future leaders and understanding how to protect their emotional and psychological well-being must remain important.
Omanhene of the Breman-Essiam Traditional Area, Odeefuo Afankwa III in his submission, commended Mr Addison for the vision and efforts to document such a very comprehensive approach to children’s upbringing.
He stated that the book would surely fill the current gap in the understanding of the role of emotional intelligence in children’s upbringing.
He said “I am very much convinced that this book will serve as a good reference material for Ghana’s Education Service as we develop a new path way in education, aimed at educating the head, the heart and the hand. I, therefore, recommend it for general readership, especially to teachers, parents, and general caregivers.”
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included the Administrator of the Police Hospital, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) David Eklu, Madam Eva Gyina-Bediako, Director, Ghana Education Service; Mrs Sylvia Rita-Osei, senior health practitioner; Mr Kobi Hemaa Osisiadan-Bekoe, Head of Corporate Communications, Ghana Post; Mr Justice Sagoe, a financial consultant and Mr Emmanuel Dankwah, Manager, Kasoa branch of Equity Savings and Loans.
BY RAISSA SAMBOU
