Social and Emotional Development
Social and Emotional Development
Preschooler Social and Emotional Development
Preschoolers are very social. They may have many friends – perhaps even a few that are imaginary! Preschool children love to talk and tell you what they think about everything. They are very proud of the things they can do and look to you for praise and acknowledgement of their developing skills. They also look to you for guidance. As a caregiver, it is very important for you to be a good role model and show preschoolers how to behave by your example. In addition, it is important to let the children know that they are loved, important and special. One good way to do this is to let preschoolers help you with a fun and easy task, like preparing a simple meal.
BRIGHT IDEA!
When praising a preschool child, be descriptive about what it is that she did well. For example, instead of (or, in addition to) simply saying “Good job!” try “I can see you really worked hard on this picture. I love the colors and lines you drew! Tell me about what you created.
Social and Emotional Development
NEWS FLASH!
By age 4 or 5, preschoolers are able to remember their addresses and phone numbers. Be sure to quiz them on this information so they have it memorized in case they get lost.
By age 5, children’s language has become much more advanced. Preschoolers are able to talk to you in complete sentences, answer your questions with interesting responses and tell you jokes (although they may not make any sense to you!) Preschoolers may still stumble over words occasionally, and although their attention span is better than when they were younger, don’t be surprised if a preschool child loses interest while you’re reading a book or singing songs.
The Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut