subject: Social And Emotional Development For Children [print this page] Toddlers experience a sense of comforting self-control from being able to anticipate what will happen next. The adult provides daily rituals and routines which contribute to the stability of the child's emotional development. The adult also provides interactions that encourages social responses.
Scaffolding is a process of interaction between the adult and child. During this process the adult gently guides and supports the child's learning by building on what the child is able to do. This involves varying the level of the activity depending upon the child's responses.
Relationships do not unfold in a vacuum. They are most rewarding when they become a vehicle for learning about oneself, about each other, and about the world. For toddlers, having things to do is a prerequisite for all these kinds of learning.
The life of a toddler involves the constant emotional struggle between dependence and independence. The turbulence of these years can be difficult for both the child and the adult. It is thus important that the adult is equipped with tools and ideas that can ease tension when emotions become fraught.
Control of the body is the first kind of control children have over themselves and is the first step toward the development of internal control, or self-discipline. Activities that encourage the child to focus, listen, then react through movement or non-movement develop a strong sense of internal control.
One aspect of self-control is inhibitory control, or the ability to stop oneself and to wait. Toddlers love stop and go games because they allow the child to practice control over his physical body and to revel in his mastery of this control. Inhibitory control is important in social interactions where taking turns is involved, and as such is an important skill for success in school.
Activities which encourage the child to move or stop moving in response to a cue help the child develop inhibitory internal control. The ability to control body movement is an important step toward developing self-discipline.
Running and jumping into the arms of an adult is a favorite game of young children. It allows children to practice and master the skills of running and jumping and/or leaping. It also has meaningful emotional content. Knowing that Daddy or Grandma will catch her when she jumps is a display of trust and represents a level of emotional security in the relationship.
A child's social competence and satisfaction cannot be viewed as isolated from the rest of her life. Studies show that children who participate in "some type of high-level intellectual activity at some time during the day" increase the "richness and complexity of their spontaneous play." The child who engages in meaningful activities, "is less prone to be discontented in other areas of her life, including her social relationships.
by: Cheow Yu Yuan
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