WHAT IS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT?
Social-emotional development is a child’s ability to understand and get along with others, manage their emotions, and build healthy relationships. Social-emotional skills (such as confidence, motivation, impulse control, empathy, communication, and cooperation) promote a child’s self-awareness, self-management, relationship building and responsible decision-making. A child’s social-emotional development contributes to their academic success, interpersonal relationships and mental health.
WHAT CAN YOU LOOK FOR AS A PARENT?
A child may struggle with social-emotional skills if they have a hard time relating to or getting along with their peers. They may overreact or have difficulty identifying and regulating their emotions. They might also have difficulty with motivation, organization and decision making.
WHAT CAN YOU DO IF THERE IS A CONCERN?
Keep a log of your child’s emotional reactions and social interactions to help identify patterns or difficulties. Talk to your child’s teacher to see if they notice any specific challenges. Discuss your child’s social and emotional patterns with your pediatrician. Sometimes struggling with social emotional skills can look like Autism Spectrum Disorder or an Anxiety Disorder so a pediatrician can help by evaluating your child. You can also look for opportunities to promote social-emotional learning.
