Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock
()
or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Positive social and emotional growth in the early years can lead to a lifetime of learning and mental health. This growth starts with relationships and caring settings. With that in place, children can learn social and emotional skills for:
Adults can teach children social skills and help them manage their feelings. This can help prevent behaviors in children that can be challenging for adults.
Social and emotional development is a key part of the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF): Ages Birth to Five, which shows what children should know and do in five central domains. Check out the Effective Practice Guides for teaching practices that support children’s development in these domains:
See the resources on this page for more information about social and emotional development and learning.
Responsive and positive relationships are the foundation for learning. Relationships between children and education staff, education staff and families, and children and families are important and support children’s social and emotional development. Secure, consistent, and trusting relationships help children feel comfortable learning new social and academic skills and strategies.
Use these resources to learn more about building and supporting relationships.
Consistent learning environments create a safe and predictable place for children to learn and grow.
Check out these resources for how to set up environments for children, birth to 5, to develop their social and emotional skills.
Children develop social and emotional skills throughout childhood. They need many chances to learn and practice these skills. Education staff and families can teach and model social and emotional skills, such as:
Check out these resources to learn more about teaching social and emotional skills.
Behavior has meaning. Children sometimes have behaviors that concern adults when they don’t have the words or skills to let others know what they want or need. Teaching social and emotional skills can help children use words and actions to meet their needs.
Check out these resources to find information on how behavior has meaning.
Find more information and resources on social and emotional development.
HeadStart.gov
official website of the Administration for Children and Families
