Pediatric Behavioral Health Resources, LLC
103 Hwy 13 South
Waverly, TN 37185
www.pediatricbehavior.com
 
We offer free information, resources, online classes, long distance learning, home-study courses,
online consulting and counseling on behavior management, parenting, classroom
management & more!

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SKILLS IN YOUNG CHILDREN

Children need to be taught emotional and social skills just as they need to be taught other skills such as counting, or the alphabet. Children learn these skills by watching and modeling others. That is why it is so important to limit exposure to inappropriate social skills that are often seen on television programs, cartoons, and video games during the early years.

Sometimes, children need help learning these skills when they do not pick up on them on their own. Factors such as divorce, trauma, abuse, or some disabilities (autism, pdd, adhd) may interfere with the child's learning of social-emotional skills. Therefore, the child must be coached in these areas. Here are some basic social emotional skills children learn in the early years:

Skill

Definition

Understanding emotions & feelings

 Recognizing, describing, and understanding the various emotions and feelings in self and others. Feelings include: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, liking something, disliking something, loneliness, confusion, etc.

Understanding the relationship between feelings & emotions and behavior

 Recognizing that certain feelings cause certain behaviors. For example, when angry, the child hits. When sad, the child cries. When an adult yells, s/he is mad, etc.

Being able to put emotions & feelings into words

 Being able to communicate to others how the child is feeling. "I feel sad because..." or, "I am mad because..." instead of hitting.

Being sensitive to the emotions & feelings of others

 Being able to understand others when they tell the child what they are feeling. This includes being able to read social cues such as intonation of voice, body language, and expressions.

 

 About the Author: Dr. Catherine Swanson Cain, PhD, LMFT provides counseling and therapy to families of young children with behavior problems or mental health disabilities. She also provides consultation and training to educators, child care providers, and professionals on a variety of behavioral health issues.