Social Interaction & Competence

The building blocks for successful relationships and a healthy sense of self begins when a child is an infant.

Very early personal relationships and experiences set the stage for how a child:

• Learns to manage his or her emotions (self-regulation),
• Feels about themselves (self-confidence),
• Relates to others and the world around them (competence).

When children learn a healthy method of managing their emotions, feel positively about themselves, and are included in healthy relationships with those closest to them, they are more likely to:

• Succeed in group situations (schools, community settings, etc.),
• Concentrate and learn successfully,
• Effectively communicate their feelings,
• Continually develop self-confidence and self-esteem

A child uses his or her emotional skills to interact with others. This includes playing and developing relationships with peers, interaction with caregivers and parents, adapting to a variety of environments, and learning about the larger world.

Emotional competence is a vital aspect of a child's social and ultimately, overall development.

We invite you to utilize the resources on this page to learn more about a child's emotional and social development, and more importantly, to MAKE A CHILD'S FIRST YEARS COUNT.

Complete a Whole Child Profile to access appropriate resources.

Links to Social and Emotional Development Aids

Observing a Child - Social and Emotional Development: Birth to 5 Years
Qualities to Teach and Nurture
Social-Emotional Characteristics that May be Cause for Concern

SED Coloring Book.pdf 4.16 MB