Emotional Development

Calm, Cool, Collected

Social-emotional wellness involves developing the ability to experience and control emotions, form secure and positive relationships, and explore and learn in all areas of your child’s environment (family, community, and culture).

Activity

Aunt Lisa comes over to see Helen’s new baby brother. Helen is upset that she has not come to see only her. Mom sees Helen with her arms crossed and sitting on the couch. Mom asks, “Helen, are you sad?” Helen nods. Mom says, “Helen, it’s okay. I will sit with you, and we can ask Aunt Lisa to bring your baby brother over while we all sit together.” Mom comforts Helen with a hug and a kiss. As they wait for Aunt Lisa they sit together on the couch having some special togetherness time.

Insight

In this situation Mom takes the time to identify to Helen how she is feeling, then she provides comfort to her and brings her into the experience so she does not feel replaced in everyone’s affections by her baby brother. This is also very important to do since Helen is feeling excluded from the situation, and feeling left out brings feelings of sadness and isolation.

Reading your child’s emotional cues will help her identify her emotions. Also model for her the behavior for dealing with the emotion so she can store that information and use it the next time a similar situation arises or the feeling is experienced again.

Your child mirrors your own expressions and gestures. It is important to always model and provide emotional support for your child. Social-emotional maturity is a necessary skill to have in social settings, and each age has its milestones in this category.

Three year olds form relationships and learn to express their feelings during play experiences with others as the children work toward a common goal and communicate how they feel.

Relationships play a key role in cultivating your child’s social-emotional well-being, providing a sense of stability and belonging, and allowing the child to make the most of learning opportunities. Social relationships between children also allow the child to learn appropriate ways to express herself when interacting with others.

Your child’s emotional development requires your support by helping her have a positive self-image. When your child accomplishes a physical feat or deals with an emotion in a positive manner, praise her. A “good job!” goes a long way in reinforcing appropriate social-emotional reactions. You will keep coaching and encouraging your child’s emotional development into her adolescent years.Reading your child’s emotional cues will help her identify her emotions. Also model for her the behavior for dealing with the emotion so she can store that information and use it the next time a similar situation arises or the feeling is experienced again. Your child mirrors your own expressions and gestures. It is important to always model and provide emotional support for your child. Social-emotional maturity is a necessary skill to have in social settings, and each age has its milestones in this category.