What is Social-Emotional Development?

Social-emotional development is a child’s ability to understand the feelings of others, control their own feelings and behaviors, and get along with peers. In order for children to attain the basic skills they need such as cooperation, following directions, demonstrating self-control and paying attention, they must have social-emotional skills. Feelings of trust, confidence, pride, friendship, affection and humor are all a part of a child’s social-emotional development. A child’s positive relationship with trusting and caring adults is the key to successful social and emotional development.

Social and emotional development involves the acquisition of a set of skills. Key among them are the ability to:

• Identify and understand one’s own feelings

• Accurately read and comprehend emotional states in others

• Manage strong emotions and their expressions in a constructive manner

• Regulate one’s own behavior

• Develop empathy for others

• Establish and sustain relationships

Each of these skills develop on their own timetable and build upon one another. The foundation of social-emotional development begins in infancy. A two-month-old infant is soothed and smiles at the voice of an adult. When the caregiver talks to the child, he/she will fixate on the face of the loved one. Being able to read your child's cues and attending to them from the day they are born starts the creation of social-emotional development in your child. You are creating a secure, trusting and loving relationship with your child. ACP has adopted a resource called The BASICS to help provide our families with information, activities, and tools from which to learn and grow!