Social Emotional Development
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Social-Emotional Development
Social-Emotional Development
How your child forms relationships, understands their own feelings, and responds to the emotions of others.
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In this module, we discuss early development of social-emotional skills.
Scroll through for a brief overview and guidance to help your young child begin this lifelong journey and set the foundation for years of social-emotional growth!
Types of Social-Emotional Skills
Types of Social-Emotional Skills
Importance of Emotional Development
Importance of Emotional Development
Early emotional experiences shape:
Brain development and neural connections
Future relationships and social skills
Ability to manage emotions and stress
Mental health and wellbeing throughout life
10 Ways to Support Social & Emotional Development
10 Ways to Support Social & Emotional Development
Cuddle & rock your child
Listen & respond to your child
Be warm & responsive
Help express emotions through words
Model good behavior
Encourage asking for help
Calm them when upset
Give them some responsibility
Encourage natural curiosity
Allow them to complete their own tasks
Learning Healthy Social & Emotional Skills Will:
Help your child relate to others
Let them build strong friendships
Teach them to be self-confident
This video shows an experiment with mom interacting and then they ask her not interact with baby. Look at their faces, body language, & how they feel. Watch how the baby responds. What are they telling you?
Understanding Babies' Cues:
Understanding Babies' Cues:
Reading facial expressions & body language
Engagement cues vs. disengagement cues
Video examples of infant communication
Understanding temperament
Observe and get to know your child's facial expressions, different cries, and attach words to acknowledge those feelings even before they understand.
Don't pressure them to interact immediately when disengaged - build their trust and provide comfort when they are ready!
Engagement
Visually looking
Making eye contact
Facial smiles, alert face
Body relaxed,
Reaching out
Hand to mouth actions
Vocalizing – cooing or lip smacking
Disengagement
Glazed or unfocused eyes
Turns head away
Frowns, grimaces
Arching back, stiff muscles, pushes away
Crying
Fussing
Hiccupping
Yawning
Temperament
Temperament
The unique way a baby reacts and responds to the world around them
3 Main Types of Temperament:
3 Main Types of Temperament:
Easy- Generally happy, good patterns & routines; adjusts well to new situations
Slow to warm up- can be cautious or withdrawn. Need time to warm up, shy at first
Difficult- is more intense and challenging in situations; not able to adapt as easily
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Which one sounds like your child?
They could be 1 or all 3 in a given day!
Respect & acknowledge how they feel; you can't change temperament.
Meet them where they are. This might mean allowing extra time for the warm-up or adapting to the situation.
Fostering Secure Attachments
Fostering Secure Attachments
What is attachment & why does it matter?
What can you do to nurture security?
Cultural perspectives on attachment & caregiving
"Attachment is the the unique emotional relationship that occurs with you and your baby that is interactive and dynamic as they grow"
Its important to teach babies to trust you, communicate with you, and trust others!
This is so they can...
Develop fulfilling intimate relationships
Maintain emotional balance
Feel confident and good about themselves
Enjoy being with others
Rebound from disappointment and loss.
Share their feelings and seek support
Cultural Perspectives
Cultural Perspectives
on attachment & caregiving
Different cultures have different viewpoints on childrearing
Multiple vs immediate family
Sleeping- alone, co-sleeping
Eating
Physical contact
Dealing with emotions
Routines
Independence
You do YOU!
Don't let anyone, even your own family, dictate how you should parent or which cultural perspectives you have or choose to observe with your own family!
Do explain so others learn and understand your choices!
Ways YOU Can Help Your Baby Learn to Connect!
Ways YOU Can Help Your Baby Learn to Connect!
2 Months Old
Hold, cuddle & talk with your baby
Respond to baby's cries. If not hungry or in need of a diaper change, try swaddling, rocking, singing, or taking baby for a walk.
Learn baby’s special rhythms and try to settle into routines, like eating & sleeping
Connect with them with all your senses and theirs
4 Months Old
Talk to your baby
Connect and respond to your baby- smile when they smile, talk when they make sounds
Engage in social games (ie. peek a boo; silly faces.etc) and singing
Talk to them about what your doing as you are doing it with them
Pay attention to what your baby likes and dislikes
6 Months Old
Reassure baby of your presence
Acknowledge how they feel with words and comfort
Copy what they do and allow them to copy you
Get down on floor and play with them
Sing songs with gestures
9 Months Old
Give lots of hugs & kisses
Encourage social behaviors
Reassure them even more of your presence- play peek a boo and mommy comes back type games
Begin to play games with turn taking
Pay attention to how baby responds to new situations and acknowledge
Ask for behaviors you want- now its time to sit; we don't hit, etc.
12 Months Old
Engage in simple conversation
Give them basic choices (always ones you are happy with)
Let them know what is happening, ie. time to go see grandma; time to go to sleep,etc
Talk about their toys, ie name them, engage in pretend actions,etc.
Give baby time to adjust to new people or situations
Resources & Guides!
A_Guide_for_Families_with_Children_Birth-8_Years.pdfCopy of How_to_Support_Social_and_Emotional_Development.pdfPage updated
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