Moana’s Journey to Self-Awareness and the Importance of Modeling Emotional Intelligence for Children
Moana, a young girl born on the island of Motunui, had always been drawn to the sea. However, her father, Chief Tui, forbade her from venturing beyond the reef. He believed there was danger lurking beyond the island, and he wanted to keep his people safe.
Despite her father’s warning, Moana continued to feel a strong pull towards the sea. She knew that she was meant for something bigger than just staying on the island and tending to her people’s needs. So, she set out on a journey to find the demigod Maui and convince him to help her restore the heart of Te Fiti, a stone that held the power to create life and renew the land.
However, on her journey, Moana encountered obstacles that challenged not only her physical abilities but her emotional intelligence.
One of these obstacles was encountering Maui, who was initially uncooperative and reluctant to help restore the heart of Te Fiti. Their relationship started off rocky, with both individuals having trust issues. However, with time, they slowly started to build trust by learning about each other’s histories and emotions.
“Why don’t you want to help me, Maui?” Moana asked.
“Why should I? I’ve been betrayed before. I’m not sure if I can trust anyone anymore,” Maui replied with bitterness in his voice.
Moana understood Maui’s reluctance to help. “I know how it feels to be betrayed, Maui,” she said. “But sometimes, we need to move past our hurt and focus on the greater good. Think about all the people and creatures who are suffering because of Te Fiti’s heart.”
Maui paused and looked at Moana. He saw the determination in her eyes, and slowly, he started to trust her.
In another instance, Moana encountered the wrath of Teka, a giant, fiery monster who guarded the entrance to Lalotai, the realm of monsters. But instead of fighting the monster, Moana used her emotional intelligence to communicate with Teka, realizing that the monster was just as scared and vulnerable as she was.
“Teka, why are you hurting us?” Moana asked.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know how to control my anger. People are always trying to hurt me,” Teka replied.
Moana paused and understood Teka’s emotions. “I understand how you feel. But we’re not here to hurt you. We’re just trying to restore the heart of Te Fiti. Please, can you help us?”
Teka looked at Moana with hesitation but eventually gave her permission to enter Lalotai.
Through her journey, Moana not only showed tremendous physical strength but also emotional strength. She displayed empathy, kindness, and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Moana’s journey taught children about the importance of emotional intelligence and how it can help in navigating life’s many challenges. Disney characters like Moana provide children with positive role models who can teach them about self-awareness, emotional regulation, social awareness, and decision-making, amongst other skills.
Characters such as Olaf from Frozen 2 could provide children with a different perspective on emotional intelligence. Olaf’s curiosity and love for learning were a central theme of the movie. Olaf was eager to understand change, loss, and love, despite not fully understanding the concepts’ implications.
As Olaf sat beside Anna and Kristoff, contemplating the cause and effect of change, he stated, “Water has memory. It remembers everything. The way the waves sounded, the smell of seaweed, the way your toes curled in the sand, remembering every time you’ve ever dared to stand up to the ocean and its strength.”
The creation of Olaf’s character provided an opportunity for children to learn about questioning emotions and how asking different types of questions can aid in developing their emotional intelligence.
Finally, Winnie the Pooh, a timeless classic and ever-lovable character, provides children with a sense of security and belonging. His storylines teach children about the intricacies of relationships, particularly how emotions can affect them.
When Eeyore lost his tail, Winnie the Pooh offered his help by asking, “What happened to your tail, Eeyore? Was it earthquake? Was it a hurricane, or was it just too much bouncing?”
Winnie the Pooh acknowledged Eeyore’s emotions and provided a listening ear through his questioning, showing empathy and kindness.
It is important to note that modeling emotional intelligence for children starts with the adults in their lives, whether it’s parents, teachers, or caregivers. Incorporating emotional regulation and the use of questioning and empathy into daily routine activities like playtime, mealtimes, and storytelling is essential for children’s cognitive and emotional development.
In conclusion, Moana’s journey to self-awareness is a beautiful example of the importance of embracing emotional intelligence as a vital part of children’s character-building. Disney characters like Olaf, Winnie the Pooh, and Moana provide children with positive role-models that can teach them essential life-skills that not only improve their emotional and social functioning but also aid in their academic success.
Moana’s journey to self-awareness and emotional intelligence, demonstrated through her interactions with Maui and Teka, provide children with positive role models. Along with characters like Olaf and Winnie the Pooh, they teach important life-skills such as empathy and kindness that aid in emotional and social functioning and academic success. Adults in a child’s life should model emotional intelligence in daily routine activities.
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” – Margaret Mead
