Feb 26-1
February is often associated with love, but at Frameworks, we believe love is more than a card, a heart, or a single day on the calendar. Love shows up in how we listen, how we regulate our emotions, how we treat one another when things are hard, and how we repair relationships when we miss the mark.
In other words, love looks a lot like emotional intelligence.
Across classrooms, homes, and communities, stress is very real. Children are navigating complex emotions and experiences, educators and caregivers are carrying heavy emotional loads, and families are balancing more than ever before. These pressures don’t disappear when the school bell rings or the workday ends; they shape how we show up for one another.
Emotional intelligence provides practical, learnable tools to recognize emotions, manage stress, communicate clearly, and build healthy relationships. These skills are not “soft.” They are foundational to learning, behavior, and long-term well-being, and they can be strengthened at any age.
At Frameworks, we don’t ask children to “just calm down” or “be kind.” We teach them how. Students learn to name emotions, understand what their feelings are telling them, practice self-regulation strategies that actually work, and build empathy for others. They gain confidence in expressing their needs, setting boundaries, and repairing relationships when things go wrong.
At the same time, we support educators, families, and caring adults with the language, tools, and confidence to model emotional intelligence in real, everyday moments like during transitions, difficult conversations, and times of stress. We know that children learn emotional intelligence best when the adults around them are supported, too.
When emotional intelligence is embedded into daily life, the ripple effect is powerful. Classrooms become calmer and more connected. Teachers can teach and students can learn. Relationships strengthen. And children develop resilience, self-awareness, and coping skills that last far beyond school.
This February, we invite our community to lead with both heart and skill. Look for small, meaningful moments to pause, listen, name emotions, and choose connection. Because love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a practice. And when we practice emotional intelligence together, we build stronger schools, families, and communities for the future.
Hearts full this February,
Elizabeth A. Reedy
CEO