This lesson will help you understand how children develop social-emotional skills during the preschool years. You will learn about social-emotional milestones and what to do if you are concerned about a child’s development.
Children’s emotional well-being during their early years has a powerful impact on their social relationships. Children who are emotionally healthy are better able to establish and maintain positive relationships with adults and peers (Trawick-Smith, 2014). Consider some of the children in your own life and the different stages in their social-emotional development as they were growing up.
Preschool-age children are learning to talk about their feelings and the feelings of others. Social-emotional development, however, involves more than just expressing emotions. It entails taking turns, becoming independent in following routines, interacting more with peers, engaging in meaningful relationships with others, controlling emotions, and developing a positive self-image. These skills are crucial for children’s successful participation in school and home experiences and for their overall growth.