The final aspect of children development is the Social and Emotional Development. The previous three aspects are:
❤️ Cognitive Skills Development (Intellectual)
💛 Motor Skills Development (Physical), and
💙 Communication and Language Development
All of these aspects of children early development are interconnected and influence each other.
Social and emotional development is the children’s ability to react and to interact with their environment which also includes children’s experience, expression, empathy and management of emotions.
Children learn to understand the feelings of others, to control their own feelings and behaviors, to get along with other children and to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others at which it encompasses both intra- and interpersonal processes.
Different areas of growth as described below :
- Temperament: the way children ACT and RESPOND to different situations and people such as parents, friends and strangers
- Attachment: the emotional BOND between children and their parents
- Social skills or social competence: the children’s ability to GET ALONG with other people
- Emotion regulation: the children’s ability to CONTROL their EMOTIONS and REACTIONS to the environment
- Self-regulation: the children’s ability to EXPRESS their THOUGHTS and BEHAVIOR in socially appropriate ways.
Children must have this social-emotional skills in order for them to develop the basic skills they need such as cooperation, following directions, demonstrating self-control and paying attention. This is where thinking becomes more complex.
Parents and family members play the biggest role in this social-emotional development because they have the most consistent relationships with their children. Consistent experiences and quality interactions can help children learn and explore emotions in more predictable interactions.
Check out the type of social-emotional learning and the benefits to children below 😉
So let’s just be affectionate to our children. Hold them, comfort, talk, listen, play and sing with them.
Resolve conflicts with them but even if it takes longer, we must remember not to overdo everything for them. Give fully support but let them naturally develop.
(Sources of info : dmh.myo.gov, cde.ca.gov, helpmegrowmn.org, urbanchildinstitute.org, kidsmatter.edu.au, cdc.gov)
When we as parents establish positive relationships with our children and we value their thoughts and behavior, children will feel more secure thus build up strong foundation of social and emotional development for them.
This strong foundation will powerfully impacts children’s positive attitudes and behaviors, academic performance, career path and adult health outcomes, later! 😊
Love,
Momma Hana 🌹
Hana Harris 