Building Brains Through Connection: How Social Interaction Shapes Emotional Intelligence in Children

Building Brains Through Connection: How Social Interaction Shapes Emotional Intelligence in Children

October 2, 2025 · 35 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how social interaction in children contributes to brain development and emotional intelligence.

For children, social interaction isn’t just play—it’s brain-building. When children connect, share, and empathize, they are also strengthening the neural pathways that shape emotional intelligence, communication, cooperation, and lifelong learning. Join Brad Schlaggar, president and CEO of Kennedy Krieger Institute and his guests Drs. Maya Opendak and Tomomi Karigo as they discuss the development of our brains’ neural systems for social and emotional behavior, and the factors that can interrupt that development.

People in this episode

Host: Brad Schlaggar

Guests: Maya Opendak, Tomomi Karigo

Topics covered

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kennedy Krieger Institute

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