A child’s social and emotional development/intelligence
A child’s social and emotional development/intelligence when beginning kindergarten has been shown to be an indicator of how well children do in elementary school and beyond, but yet many early childhood programs emphasize cognitive, communicative, and physical development.
A. Do you think the early childhood room where you observed treated social/emotional develop equally with the other domains? Explain.
B. How will you address the issue as a teacher/caregiver of infants and toddlers when parents are concerned about what the child is learning and want more academic content as opposed to social/emotional skill building?
Sample Solution
A child`s social and emotional development/intelligence
Children grow and develop rapidly in their first five years across the four main areas of development. These areas are motor (physical), communication and language, cognitive, and social and emotional. Social and emotional development means how children start to understand who they are, what they are feeling and what to expect when interacting with others. It is the development of being able to: form and sustain positive relationships; experience, manage and express emotions; and explore and engage with the environment. Positive social and emotional development is important. This development influences a child`s self-confidence, empathy, the ability to develop meaningful and lasting friendships and partnerships, and a sense of importance and value to those around him/her.
