Social-Emotional Development
Understanding your child's emotional growth and social skills
What is Social-Emotional Development?
Social-emotional development includes your child's ability to:
- Form relationships - Bonding with caregivers and interacting with others
- Experience and regulate emotions - Understanding and managing feelings
- Explore and learn - Using relationships as a secure base for discovery
Healthy social-emotional development in the early years forms the foundation for all future learning and relationships.
Social-Emotional Milestones by Age
0-3 Months
- Calms down when spoken to or picked up
- Looks at your face
- Seems happy to see you when you walk up
- Smiles when you talk to or smile at them
- Shows different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)
4-6 Months
- Knows familiar people
- Likes to look at self in mirror
- Laughs out loud
- Shows enjoyment during interactions
- Responds differently to strangers vs. familiar people
- Enjoys playing peek-a-boo
7-12 Months
- May be shy, clingy, or fearful around strangers
- Cries when parent leaves (separation anxiety)
- Shows preference for certain people and toys
- Plays games like pat-a-cake and peek-a-boo
- Looks at caregiver's face for reaction to new situations
- Waves bye-bye
- Shows emotions like happiness, sadness, anger
12-18 Months
- Hands you a book to read together
- Points to show you something interesting
- Moves away from you but looks to make sure you're close
- Explores independently with caregiver nearby
- Plays next to other children (parallel play)
- May have tantrums when frustrated
- Shows affection to familiar people
18-24 Months
- Notices when others are hurt or upset
- May try to comfort someone who is sad
- Looks at your face to see how to react in new situations
- Copies others, especially adults and older children
- Gets excited when with other children
- Shows defiant behavior (does what told not to do)
- Plays simple pretend (feeding a doll)
2-3 Years
- Calms down within 10 minutes after you leave
- Notices other children and joins them to play
- Shows wide range of emotions
- Follows simple routines (cleanup time)
- Plays make-believe with dolls, animals, people
- May show fear of imaginary things (monsters)
- Begins to take turns (with help)
- Shows concern for crying friend
Supporting Social-Emotional Development
What You Can Do
- Respond consistently to your child's needs
- Name emotions ("You seem frustrated")
- Model healthy emotional expression
- Create predictable routines
- Allow safe exploration
Activities That Help
- Read books about feelings
- Play peek-a-boo and turn-taking games
- Sing songs with actions together
- Encourage pretend play
- Provide opportunities for peer interaction
When to Seek Help
Talk to your doctor or contact us if your child:
- Doesn't smile or show joy by 6 months
- Doesn't share back-and-forth sounds or expressions by 9 months
- Shows no interest in caregivers
- Doesn't respond to their name by 12 months
- Doesn't point to share interest by 14 months
- Shows extreme difficulty separating from parents
- Has frequent, intense tantrums
- Shows no pretend play by 18 months
- Doesn't notice or interact with other children by age 3
Related Services
Questions About Your Child's Development?
We're here to help. Contact us to discuss your concerns.