Early childhood teachers coping with change: The roles of emotional intelligence, emotional labour and career adaptability

Studies have suggested that emotional intelligence (EI) is among the most desirable qualities needed by kindergarten teachers, and is a strong predictor of career success. Teachers with high emotional intelligence also tend to suffer less burnout and exhaustion, are able to avoid or resolve conflicts, and often have high job satisfaction. This chapter applies concepts of emotional intelligence, emotional labour (EL) and career adaptability (CA) to explore how these variables may relate to kindergarten teachers' avoidance of professional burnout and their ability to cope with career challenges. The context of this discussion is recent reforms to early childhood education in Hong Kong; and the topic provides a perspective on cultural influences on the relationships among EI, EL, and early childhood teachers' career development.