Abstract
This paper presents the development and implementation of an Emotional Intelligence (EI) program designed to enhance young children's emotional skills while preserving Saudi cultural values. The program integrates three key components: Cultural Resilience, Educational Innovation, and Community Engagement, ensuring a holistic approach to emotional intelligence development. Through a series of thoughtfully designed activities, the program fosters self-awareness, empathy, emotional regulation, and social skills, helping children navigate their emotions in a culturally relevant context. To assess the program's effectiveness, it was implemented in 10 private nurseries and kindergartens in Riyadh, where teachers actively engaged children in various emotionally enriching activities. Following the implementation, a survey was conducted with 85 kindergarten teachers who facilitated the program, gathering their insights on its structure, activities, and impact. The findings revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback, with teachers reporting significant improvements in children's emotional awareness, interpersonal relationships, and ability to express and manage emotions. Teachers also highlighted the effectiveness of the program's culturally embedded activities, emphasizing their engaging and impactful nature. The results underscore the program's success in fostering emotional intelligence while reinforcing cultural identity, demonstrating the importance of integrating cultural and community elements into early childhood education. This paper advocates the broader adoption of such culturally sensitive EI programs across Saudi Arabia, recognizing their role in nurturing emotionally intelligent children who are prepared to thrive in both personal and social spheres.