The world has a tendency to use academic results to gauge intelligence while overlooking one of the most important things your child can ever learn which is emotional intelligence.
Social development lays down an everlasting foundation for emotional development, both of which are delicate processes that directly influence each other and help shape your child into the person they will one day become.
Social development in children provides them with the necessary skills they need to develop healthy and functional relationships with family, friends and the outside world.
A child’s development is hugely influenced by parents, teachers, media and religious or cultural groups.
Additionally, it facilitates your child’s ability to add value to both personal and professional relationships, positively contributing to society as a whole.
Your child’s understanding of their emotions is imperative to the processing of those emotions.
If your child can successfully process their emotions, they will also be able to express them with clarity; this is self-awareness.
A person who learns to manage his/her emotions is laying the foundation for responsible decision making and healthy relationship skills. This is self-management.
Social awareness is your child’s ability to acknowledge the emotions of their peers as being subjective, to respect them and then to express empathy. Empathy is an invaluable response in difficult situations.
Your child’s emotional intelligence is highly important because firstly, it instils good values and principles that will be carried with them throughout their lives.
Furthermore, it greatly impacts other child developmental stages such as the developing of language and speech, conflict management, developing of confidence and self-esteem and educational success.
Moreover, it teaches your child to feel and express gratitude and kindness.
We have all heard the saying that goes: “A child’s mind is like a sponge”.
A child will absorb enormous amounts of information which will undoubtedly leave an imprint on the way the view and interact with the world.
Be conscious of the way you interact with others in front of your child as this will teach them what is acceptable behaviour.
Always be present and aware of what you say in front of and to your child.
To help your child develop emotionally, it is important that you are available to them. Being available requires you to provide emotional coaching; help them to acknowledge their feelings and then guide them through it.
Consider this a time to bond and a chance to provide invaluable wisdom. Take this time to help your child understand the difference between experiencing a particular emotion and the way they behave in response to that emotion.
A child’s development starts in the womb but there are ways that we can actively stimulate social and emotional development after birth.
Although each child and its developmental milestones are unique, methods used to contribute to their reaching these milestones are relative to approximate age and universal developmental stages.
During infancy you can make a concerted effort to obtain and maintain eye contact with your baby as much as you can and under any circumstance. This establishes connection between you and your baby.
It is also important to take your baby with you when you visit friends or when you need to make a quick run to the store as this gives them an opportunity to witness the way you interact with your surroundings. Always be available to promptly respond to your baby’s needs. This teaches your baby a valuable lesson in trust.
As a parent, you can stimulate your child’s development during its toddler phase by helping them accurately express the way they feel by guiding them through their emotions.
This provides the necessary tools to deal with this emotion in a functional way in the future.
Openly demonstrate love and affection for your child. Showing love and appropriate levels of affection will teach your child how to openly demonstrate their own love.
Play with your toddler as if you were a toddler yourself. Playing with your child in a friend-like manner encourages play that is co-operative and also teaches the ability to share.
For school children to continue their emotional and social development they still require great input from you as the parent.
Ask your child about their day at school and about their friends too. Allow a space for open and honest communication which is judgement free.
Your child must know that you are there for them to speak to and that you will neither judge them nor deny them of their reality.
Always talk about the reality of bullying and explain that there is both physical bullying, emotional and social bullying as well as bullying that happens online.
Overall, the importance of developing your child’s emotional and social development is immeasurable.
Early childhood development is one of the biggest building blocks for a positive future.
The 5 fundamentals of emotional intelligence can be explained using the acronym “RULER”.
A five-step process that is highly beneficial for a child to know. The RULER concept is a powerful one and can be applied in all areas of life and to every different relationship. With the input from you as the parent, you can shape your child’s future into a prosperous one.
Kay-Dee Educare and Day-care Centre offers aftercare facilities and extramural activities that can stimulate your child’s social development and individual child development.
We offer quality educational care and aftercare facilities, with all activities aimed at social and emotional development in children.
For more information about our educare centre, creche or daycare in Mowbray, please contact us.
Get the latest updates in your email box automatically.
Your nickname:
Email address:
Subscribe