An increasing number of Filipino moms are engaging their pre-playschool kids in activities that can help develop the youngsters’ emotional intelligence (emotional quotient or EQ). In the previous years, child rearing was heavily focused on cognitive intelligence. But now, modern moms are getting more conscious of the importance of development of a child’s EQ as well.
This observation is backed by the results of a survey commissioned by Mead Johnson Nutrition across Southeast Asia. The poll, the first ever of its kind involving moms in the region, was aimed at understanding the concerns and hopes that these parents have for their children. It tapped up to 3,500 mom-respondents from six countries: the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The results reveal that millennial moms no longer consider intelligence quotient (IQ) as guarantee to future success of their kids. Majority of the respondents, including Filipino moms, believe that their child’s EQ is just as important as their IQ. The EQ reflects a child’s ability to identify, evaluate, control, and even perceive emotions.
The study also found that up to 88% of Filipino moms rank EQ as equally, if not more important than IQ, sharing the sentiment with about 91% of moms in the neighboring countries in the region where the survey was facilitated.
EQ over IQ
Filipino moms also deem the importance of high EQ-associated traits for kids’ future success. About 65% of the Filipino respondents think that their children’s ability to adapt to any situation is most important, while just 13% think empathy has the same importance for future success of kids.
On the regional level, 58% of surveyed moms think a child’s ability to adapt to any situation is the most important trait to bring a kid to success in the future. This was succeeded by the ability to solve problems, ability to be independent, ability to work well with others, creativity, and critical thinking. Only 18% of them believe the ability to empathize is also important, making that trait the least in the list.
The sentiment of the moms surveyed in the Philippines and in neighboring countries is reflective of the changing concerns parents have for their children. Based on a World Economic Forum report released in September 2017, skills such as complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and people management—all EQ-related traits—were ranked as most important to have by 2020. Take note that while IQ is still regarded as having a critical role in children’s development, EQ is already considered as the more dominant trait.
The importance of proper nutrition
Along with moms’ guidance and support, giving proper nutrition to kids has become among the best ways to ensure development of young individuals’ EQ. This prompted pediatric nutrition experts to boost their formula ingredients to help address better IQ and EQ development in children.
True to its thrust of being a partner in child development, pediatric nutrition innovator Mead Johnson recently launched its biggest breakthrough since DHA—the reformulation that includes milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in its milk products for kids, particularly Enfagrow A+ Four.
By providing an enabling environment for learning and exploration, partnered with proper nutrition in Enfagrow A+ Four enriched with MFGM and DHA, parents can help in the development of the IQ and EQ of their kids.