Social /

Emotional

DevelopmentInfants, Toddlers, and

Preschool Children

Social / Emotional Development

Type of development involving a person’s

disposition, social interactions, and emotions.

Focus Questions

In what ways might

social/emotional development

shape a child’s future?”

How does one learn personal

responsibility, rules, and

values?

Infant Social/Emotional

Development Disposition – A person’s general mood.

Temperament – The tendency to react in a certain way to events.

Temperament shows by 2-3 months.

Temperament may be inherited and/or due to prenatal conditions & environment.

There are three ratings of temperament:

Flexible/Easy- have regular habits & cheerful

Fearful/Slow to warm up – take more time to adapt

Feisty/Difficult – irregular in habits & withdraw or protest

Infant Social/Emotional

Development Good constant care of difficult babies may make them happier.

(cuddling, extra holding & soothing)

Ease feisty/difficult babies into new situations (transitions)

By 1st year social development is well underway.

Babies are born with tools for social development.

Listen to human voices

Like to look at people’s faces

Understand social messages by body language

Initiating social contact comes with better creeping and better arm and hand control.

Infants learn from older children how to act.

The 9 Temperament Traits

Classic child development research conducted by

Doctors Chess and Thomas has identified 9

temperamental traits:

Activity level

Biological Rhythms

Approach/Withdrawal

Mood

Intensity of Reaction

Sensitivity

Adaptability

Distractibility

Persistence

( Bolded traits are most stable over time)

Temperament Video Clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=1EcA9mgxBwk

Temperament Trait Poster

What:

A poster with more pictures than

words

Audience:

Parents

Purpose:

Help parents understand what

the temperament traits are and

what it means to be low, medium

or high in each trait.

Provide activities that are soothing such as warm bath, massage, water play, stories.

Recognize cues that signal that intensity is rising.

Help child learn to recognize cues that signal that intensity is rising.

Use humor to diffuse intensity.

Teach child to use time-out as a time to calm self-down.

Avoid escalating intensity of child be reacting intensely to his/her behavior. Give calm, clear, brief feedback.

Parenting Strategies For

Very Intense Children:

Parenting Strategies for Slow-to-Adapt Children:

Establish clear routines.

Prepare child by discussing plans for the day when routine changes.

Prepare child for transitions.

Give warnings a few minutes before transition from one activity to next occurs.

Allow time for closure of one activity before going on to next.

Stay aware of number of transitions required, and keep transitions to minimum if possible.

Parenting Strategies For

Slow to Warm & Feisty

Children:

Temperament Reflection

What temperament you believe

yourself to have ?

Explain what a caregiver needs to

know about goodness of fit and

how this could affect a child’s

future.

How might understanding the

different temperaments help us in

our lives?

KWL - Attachment Make a KWL chart on your paper.

In the K section write down all that you feel you

already Know about Attachment.

In the W section write down all that you Want to

know about Attachment.

What is Attachment?

Explain your definition of attachment.

Explain the people you have an

attachment to.

How do you believe attachment occurs

with children?

Attachment Video

Video Clip – Attachment Theory

As you watch the video

2 MIPs and/or wonderings

Turn to your elbow partner and share your

thoughts

Bonding & Attachment Bonding and attachment are terms used

for two loving relationships between

parents and babies.

Relationship Term Used

Parents come to love their babies

after birth

Parents Baby

Bonding

Babies whose needs are met come

to love their parents.

Children realize this tie after six

months of age.

Baby Parents

Attachment

Trust Write down the word trust.

What does trust mean to you?

Explain the relationship between

attachment and trust.

How might learning trust help children

develop socially and emotionally?

When babies are loved and cared for they

learn to understand and trust others.

Development of Attachment

BehaviorsApproximate Age Attachment Behaviors

1 month

2 weeks to 2 months

3 months

4-5 months

7-8 months

Baby can recognize familiar and unfamiliar

voices.

Baby smiles.

Baby gives joyful movements, such as kicks,

coos, and gurgles. Baby may even laugh.

Baby becomes still and breathing becomes

shallow when unknown people are close.

Baby cries when a stranger is nearby or when the

baby is left alone.

Decker, Celia Anita, Children The Early Years. Illinois: The Goodheart Wilcox Company, Inc., 2004.

Still Face Experiment

What did you find interesting or surprising

in the video?

How does the still face experiment relate

to attachment and social/emotional

development?

What should a parent learn or take from

the still face experiment?

Erik Erikson

Developed a theory that said an

individual has a psychosocial task to

master during each of the eight stages

of social emotional development.

Erikson’s Theory

8 Stages

First three stages pertain to early

childhood

Basic Trust vs. Mistrust (Infancy)

Consistency of having needs met

world is seen as a reliable place and

infant develops sense of trust.

Erikson’s Theory (Cont.)

Autonomy vs. shame and doubt

(Toddler)

Toddler seeks autonomy to use new

skills and knowledge.

Seek control over whether to rely

on others.

Leads to self pride.

Failure to achieve leads to feelings

of shame and self-doubt.

Erikson’s Theory (cont.)

Initiative vs. guilt (Preschool)

Preschoolers have growing abilities.

Begin trying new things on own

initiative.

Sense of initiative learned leads to

ambition and purpose.

Too many failures and negative

responses lead to guilt and fear of

trying new things.

Erikson’s Theory (cont.)

Industry vs. inferiority (Middle childhood)

Identity vs. role confusion (Adolescence)

Intimacy vs. isolation (Early to Mid adulthood)

Generativity vs. stagnation (Mid Life)

Integrity vs. despair (Elderly Years)

Promoting Autonomy and

Initiative

Allow children to feel safe and encouraged to explore materials & relationships with peers & adults.

Make children feel important & valued.

Give responsibility they can handle Let them make decisions and have a sense of control.

Promoting Autonomy and

Initiative

Help children learn to handle their

feelings in acceptable socially

appropriate ways.

Let children know what is expected

of them to minimize frustration and

let them learn from their mistakes.

Social / Emotional Video