Competence is the ability to effectively accomplish our goals. A competent person is able to stay on track, notice what’s needed in a given situation, and respond accordingly. Competent people act with feeling, even with inspiration, but don’t let emotions derail them. In other words, they overcome internal and external obstacles to stay on task and accomplish the goals they set for themselves. That means they’re able to read other people and respond appropriately to new situations.
Competence in adults is a prerequisite to achieving professional and personal success. But what is competence in children? Competent children are able to handle emotional challenges well enough to tackle the age-appropriate tasks of each stage of development, master them, and emerge with greater confidence. They have the emotional intelligence to manage themselves and to get along with others.
