Matthew F. Stevens

EQ Child’s Test

Name
My child usually doesn’t know what they’re feeling until it turns into an outburst or shutdown.
My child struggles to explain what’s wrong—even when I’m calm and trying to help.
My child reacts to small problems like it’s a big threat or “the end of the world.”
My child misreads correction or tone as being attacked.
Once my child is upset, it takes a long time for them to return to normal.
My child goes from calm to explosive very quickly.
My child avoids emotions by shutting down, refusing, disappearing, or lying.
My child holds it together in front of others but… then falls apart with one parent.
My child says or does things when emotional that they regret later—but repeats the pattern.
When corrected, my child acts like they are “bad” instead of learning.
My child struggles with accountability and blames others even when their part is clear.
I worry my child is learning to cope through anger, disrespect, avoidance, or numbness.