Fostering Social Development
Humans are social creatures. We are born with the need to interact with others. Studies looking at infants raised in orphanages showed distinct improvements in social/emotional development when efforts were made to increase positive one-on-one caregiver interactions – meaning, the direct and consistent contact of a caregiver with an infant improved their social and emotional health long-term (see Resources for more information).
When infants and young children are raised in environments where they are exposed to positive relationships from parents, family members, teachers, and peers, they demonstrate a more positive social/emotional health and development. They are able to feel safe and secure, which allows them to experience the world, learn to manage emotions in a healthy way, and go on to establish further positive relationships with others.
What is social/emotional development?
Social/emotional development is the process by which children learn to interact with those around them. It includes social interactions with others, friendship and interpersonal relationships, and conflict resolution through self-regulation. Social/emotional development impacts self esteem, the ability to learn new skills and master challenges, and establish a positive attitude.
Social/emotional development starts at birth. It is essential for children to have loving, positive interactions that foster feelings of safety and security in order for them to develop these important skills. Parents, caregivers, and other adults can foster this development through the following:
Infants
- Provide consistent positive care through meeting needs of feeding, diaper changes and crying quickly.
- Sing, talk, and read to infants frequently
- Maintain consistent routines
- Touch and cuddle infants consistently
- Smile, laugh, and make faces at infants
- Play Peek-a-Boo
Toddlers
- Maintain consistent routines
- Encourage curiosity
- Be calm and comforting during tantrums, but set fair and consistent limits for toddlers as well
- Encourage usage of words to describe feelings
- Continue to read aloud to toddlers
- Give encouragement and praise
- Provide playdates and opportunities to interact with peers
- Offer choices
Preschoolers
- Encourage play with peers, taking turns
- Encourage appropriate expressions of feelings
- Pay attention while children are talking
- Give kind compliments
- Be patient
- Give choices when possible
- Model positive behavior
School-aged children and teens
- Foster friendships with peers
- Allow child opportunities to resolve conflicts without intervening
- Monitor for bullying and harassment
- Maintain clear communication
- Be a role model of positive behavior
- Be positive instead of critical
Final Thoughts
Many times when we talk about development, we are discussing something we can see or hear – speech, fine motor skills, gross (large) motor skills. However, while social development is something less tangible, it is just as important. We expect infants and children to develop their social/emotional skills in a predictable pattern just like any other form of development, but these skills require more personal and consistent interactions in order to meet these expectations. Infants and children who are neglected do not develop the social and emotional skills as they should.
Resources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2702123/
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