Social-Emotional Development Measurement Guide
To promote the mental and physical well-being of all children, families and early childhood professionals work every day to help support social-emotional development in very young children. This measurement guide serves professionals working with very young children in defining social-emotional development for children within their teams, aligning practices to support that development, and harnessing measurement and evaluation tools and processes to promote those definitions and practices. The guide includes information about what social-emotional development is, along with general descriptions of social-emotional development related to relationships, emotional expression and management, and self-identity domains. It also provides strategies and activity prompts to promote social-emotional learning.
Simple Strategies to Promote Social-Emotional Learning
Promoting social-emotional development is important in all contexts where young children spend time, learn, and grow. Caregivers, educators, clinicians, and practitioners can help children develop their social-emotional skills. Knowing the importance of regulating emotions, understanding social cues, and building healthy relationships can help. Social-emotional supports and teachings must be centered around families’ cultures, backgrounds, and identities. This involves pushing against biased systems and teachings that cause harm to social-emotional development and overall well-being. Predictable, supportive, and affirming environments and routines lay the groundwork for children to learn social-emotional skills like emotion management and awareness of social cues. Maintaining simple daily routines can help young children feel more secure and promote social-emotional learning.
