„How can we manage our emotions at moments of stress, conflict or strain?” This is a question that psychologists, pedagogues and more often than not writers try to answer. Scholars have found proof that awareness and control of emotions lie at the basis of a different type of intelligence which influences the individual throughout his or her life. For many years so far the scores from IQ tests based on logical thinking have been regarded as a leading factor behind success. Today however, more attention is being given to the other type of intelligence - emotional intelligence. All the more so that in the era of globalization we have to spend longer time training our emotional skills. These skills open doors to prosperity in both private and professional life. Success depends on the ability to decipher signals coming from others and to respond adequately to them.

Without factoring in emotional intelligence, many of our plans and efforts might turn out a failure, psychologists argue. They discuss in detail relations between adults and children and contend that this communication must be managed by persons who have good knowledge of their own emotions and can perfectly control them.

In this context, the promotion of emotional intelligence from an early age is the priority of the Children's Academy “How to deal with life”. „In a bid to visualize an abstract concept such as emotional intelligence, we have connected emotions with the element of water. This is because it has been found that this is the element responsible for emotions and sensitivity in humans”, explains Martina Veleva, a pedagogue with experience in informal education.

„We have polled parents and we have found out that they attach great importance to responsibility of children towards other people and the world at large. This includes habits of keeping one's room in order, as well as proper hygiene. Even more importantly, children are expected to develop skills for communication with their peers and with adults too; to be able to work in a team and take responsibility for their actions and decisions. We emphasize motivation and self-motivation as well as ways to cope with difficult and stressful situations. Parents believe that their kids must learn how to deal with conflicts. All this is related to emotions and how we manage them. Unfortunately, such important issues are seldom discussed at school.”

Martina Veleva explains that the idea for the Academy emerged based on research of the impact informal education has on child self-esteem and psyche. „The most essential input of education in the child's development is helping him or her choose a sphere in which his or her talent will find its fullest expression”, Martina says.

„With the Academy we are not trying to replace parents - they are irreplaceable, their role in upbringing and education is paramount. We strongly believe in that and we organize programs in which parents work on emotional intelligence together with their children. Family values are among our priorities. We assist children in developing their gifts by taking them out in nature. Nature is the basis of our work as we use natural givens to convey to kids messages about life and values. We train them how to create harmony of their thoughts and feelings. Children realize that we have in us part of the earth, air and water. They become aware that we are directly dependent on nature; that it can heal us and help us in dealing with stress, and at the end of the day, they come to fully grasp this connectivity.”

English Daniela Konstantinova