EXPOSITION:
The growth of Jesus as in Luke 2: 52 points us to one critical area of development refers to as socio-emotional (favour with men). This is about equipping children to interact with their peers and others in a healthy and compassionate manner.
Helping children to understand their own emotions as well as the feelings of others is critical. This aspect of training entails helping children to take charge of their feelings, and act in ways that they are able to control their emotions.
The Bible admonishes us to be angry but do not sin (Eph. 4:26). This implies that in our anger, we make sure we do not face because he was angry about a comment his sister made. This implies that our effort to train children should ensure the children increase or get better daily in socio-emotional dimension as well. We help them learn to act in a compassionate and healthy manner even at the peak of their emotions.
Here are activities that may help:
– Be careful how you handle your own feelings such as anger, excitement, sadness, frustrations etc.
– Discuss with children biblical examples of both positive and negative ways of handling emotions
– Give feedbacks on children’s progress of managing their emotions, and reward appropriately