Child Development
Child development provides parents with information on physical, mental and emotional growth and development in children. Child development information can help parents know when they are expecting too much from a child as well as become aware of lags in development that may benefit from professional help.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Developing Social Competence and Responsibility

Through a variety of play situations, young learners become increasingly aware of the needs of others, respond to verbal and nonverbal social cues and learn responsibility and control over their own behaviors. Children begin to establish their separateness from others as they learn to distinguish their emotions from the emotions other children experiencing. As children begin to label their feelings they also begin to recognize feelings of sadness, distress and joy in adult peers.

In order to develop social competence, young children also must learn to cooperate with peers and act in socially responsible manner. Children develop a cooperative spirit through participating in a variety of dramatic play and small group activities. Children who are unable to cooperate and restrain their aggressive or egocentric impulses often have difficulty forming relationship and becoming accepted member of the group. Children who are positive, friendly and caring easily develop peer relationships and often are sought out by other children to participate in play. Children’s involvement in play fosters their ability to influence peers, understand another viewpoint, develop helping behaviors, learn cooperation, practice problem solving, become both leaders and followers and control their impulses. All of these skills characterize children who have successfully entered the world of social relationships.

Children’s playful interactions with peers in classrooms where social ambience affirms differences and avoids stereotypes create empathy and respect for others. Play provides an opportunity for building bridges across cultural, racial and ability lines and promotes the understanding that children can learn to care about every other’s person feelings, beliefs and welfare.