Social-Emotional Development Is Important for: Where To Go • Understanding thoughts and feelings to help communicate and act appropriately for Help Early • Developing healthy relationships with friends and family Recognizing an issue early is always best. Children Social-Emotional These steps help children live happy, successful lives. may show different warning signs for social-emotional issues. If you have a concern talk to your healthcare provider. Development There are many specialists who may help including:
• Child psychologist • Occupational therapist • Social worker • Speech-language pathologist • Neuropsychologist • Developmental and • Psychiatrist behavioral pediatrician
Social-Emotional Skills Impact Daily Life
Social-emotional skills allow us to express ourselves Pathways.org empowers parents and health professionals appropriately in different environments and with different with FREE tools and resources to maximize a child’s motor, sensory, people. Developing these skills helps boost your child’s and communication development. confidence and can help them in school, work, and life. Copy freely. 800-955-CHILD (2445) DO NOT CHANGE. [email protected] MUST ACKNOWLEDGE • Succeed in school • Make appropriate decisions PATHWAYS.ORG. Permission to cite any part of www.pathways.org this work must be obtained • Make friends and • Resist negative social pressure from Pathways.org. Materials are provided at no cost; maintain friendships • Learn our strengths no fees or charges may be associated with any of the • Resolve conflicts and weaknesses Pathways.org materials without prior written approval. • Manage stress and anxiety • Gain awareness of what © Copyright 2019 FREE tools to maximize child development others are feeling • Learn social norms Pathways.org is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Pathways.org is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Social-Emotional Development By Age Social-Emotional Development Tips
FIRST YEAR Model the emotions Use stories to talk about 0-3 Months 4-6 Months 7-9 Months 10-12 Months and behavior you want different social situations your child to show and how each person Begins to smile in response Is usually happy when surrounded May show anxiety around strangers Attempts to display might be feeling to their caregivers, also by cheerful caregivers independence, e.g. crawling for Be responsive to your child’s Plays social games, e.g. peek-a-boo called a social smile exploration or refusing food emotions and behaviors. Ask “What would you Responds to and copies some Learns the meaning of words Respond quickly to basic do?” to help develop Develops more facial and movements and facial expressions when they’re used consistently May show fear around body expressions unfamiliar people and objects needs to develop trust, e.g. problem solving skills Develops an awareness of their Enjoys looking at self in a mirror surroundings and Tries to get attention by feeding, playing, soothing, Can briefly calm themselves, Becomes more “clingy” when leaving Encourage kids to try expresses a repeating sounds and gestures and comforting them e.g. sucking on thumb caregiver, e.g. reaches for caregiver desire to new things and learn how when being held by someone else Enjoys imitating people in play Recognizes they are having fun engage, Help your child work much they are capable of and may cry when playing stops e.g. banging through negative objects Play games to teach kids Makes eye contact and looks emotions by asking simple or toys how to take turns, win and at people while interacting questions, offering choices lose, share, and negotiate and avoiding power struggles, e.g. “Would you When using screens like to brush your teeth after 18 months (not 1-2 Years 2-3 Years 3-4 Years 4-5 Years or take a bath first?” recommended earlier), sit with your child and make Shows defiant behavior to Copies others in more Starts cooperating more Has more developed friendships Point out and talk about it a social activity, e.g. establish independence, complex tasks, e.g. cleaning, with others during play, and maybe even a “best friend” your child’s emotions asking them questions or e.g. having tantrums cooking, self-care e.g. sharing toys and how to cope More cooperative with rules playing turn-taking games Does not understand what Shows affection towards friends Can sometimes work out Understands and is sensitive others think or feel and believes conflicts with other children, e.g. Shows an increasing to others’ feelings everyone thinks as he does, taking turns in small groups variety of emotions e.g. gets upset when no longer Understands the difference Uses words to communicate the center of attention Upset when there are major between real life and make believe needs instead of screaming, changes in routine Enjoys being around grabbing, or whining Has changes in attitude, e.g. other children, but not Seems concerned about is demanding at times and Becomes more independent yet able to share easily personal needs and may cooperative at times in daily activities, e.g. may even act “selfishly” Can play independently choose own clothes to wear for brief periods of time
Remember to correct your child’s age for prematurity. Please visit www.Pathways.org to find more FREE resources on child development. Pathways.org is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.