Question 51-55 It’s natural for parents to want their children to be successful. That’s why so many of us encourage our kids to study hard and master valuable skills. But research suggests that maybe we should all focus less on IQ and more on EQ. Children with higher emotional intelligence are better able to pay attention, are more engaged in school, have more positive relationships, and are more empathic. They also regulate their behaviors better and earn higher grades. There are generally three ways parents handle their kids’ negative emotions. Some, subtly or not so subtly, push their children to repress sadness and anger. Others model aggression, imposing authoritarian rules and strict punishments for behavior that strays outside those boundaries. Finally, some parents teach expression, giving their kids space to talk through their negative emotions. The secret to raising kids who understand others’ feelings and empathize with them, a family therapy claims, is to give your children the space to understand and express their own emotions. If you provide a willing ear to hear about your children’s frustration or fear, they will learn to cope with emotional pain by expressing it to a loved one, therapist, or even just a journal. And maybe even more important, they’ll come to understand that the way to react to other people’s negative emotions is to understand and work through them.