Give Your Child the Social-Emotional Tools They Need to Flourish Now and Later in Life

Lots of work goes into building and sustaining a thriving family, and it does not happen overnight. To help Georgia families make it through the difficult times, increase their family strengths while reducing the likelihood of child abuse and neglect, and foster optimal child development, we introduced the Strengthening Families framework through a series of Georgia Parent Power articles.

The fifth and final Strengthening Families Protective Factor is the Social and Emotional Competence of Children, which are important skills that parents help their children to develop so that they can identify and regulate their emotions, communicate their feelings and needs, and develop relationships. These skills help them navigate through childhood challenges and ultimately live healthy, successful and productive lives.

Social and emotional development has been a constant and recurring theme during the Covid-19 pandemic as the development of these skills at a young age are crucial to building a child’s foundation upon which all other learning and development happens and since the majority of it takes place in a child’s early learning environment and at home. Children with strong social-emotional competence are better equipped to handle disappointment and cope with the stressors in everyday life through empathy and by building resilience. Other benefits include children exhibiting better behaviors in child care and at school, higher academic achievement, graduating from high schools and more.

As a parent, what are the top things you can do to nurture social and emotional development in your children?

1.     You are their role model

It’s up to you to set the example of how they should behave, how they interact and treat others, the words they use to convey their emotions and thought, and to show them that their feelings are valid.

2.     Be present when they are with you

Give them your undivided attention by placing phones and other distractions away when spending time together. Be an active listener by asking them questions and providing suggestions. Respond warmly, thoughtfully and positively to your child. Nurture them with cuddles, hugs and plenty of “I love you” statements.

3.     Show them that others matter

The way you acknowledge and speak to people is not lost on your child. They will mimic these interactions, surprising you on occasion with certain negative words or tones that leave you wondering where they heard them. So, treat people you encounter in everyday situations, including your children, with respect and kindness. Coordinate regular family volunteer activities even if it is making sandwiches at home to feed the homeless or picking up litter at your child’s favorite park.

4.     Help them manage their emotions

Start by teaching them the words they need to name their emotions and how to read facial expressions to understand how someone else is feeling. There are many, many books and videos that can help you point out and label the different emotions. Also, you can make it a game by making faces and having your child guess your feelings. Don’t hide your emotions – let your children see when you are sad, happy or worried. When they are feeling emotional, talk through what they are experiencing. Create a safe space for expression and to talk. Give them time to reflect. Practice and model coping strategies together.

Want to learn more about how you can support your child’s social and emotional learning? Check out these sources:

Quality Care for Children Strengthening Families

NAEYC: Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Health

PBS for Parents: Creating an Emotional Supportive Home Environment

PBS for Parents: Managing Emotions