Social emotional competence is a child's ability to experience, regulate and express emotions, to form close and secure interpersonal relationships, and to explore his or her environment and learn, all in the context of family, community, and culture.
Infant and early childhood mental health is synonymous with social and emotional development of young children and is formed within the context of the child’s relationships.
It involves skills such as self-confidence, curiosity, motivation, persistence and self control which affect growth, trust and future learning. All of these skills have their roots in infancy and rely on secure, healthy, sensitive and consistent relationships with primary caregivers. Therefore, the bond between parent and child is one of central importance.
Importance of Social and Emotional Development
The earliest years lay the foundation for future success in school and beyond. Research from the field of infant and early childhood mental health confirms that a child’s emotional development is the basis for all later development.
It sets the stage for relationships and readiness to learn. In particular, the quality of attachment in the first year is related to later social skills with peers, learning and cognitive development, problem solving skills and risk for challenging behavior. Children who do not attain basic social and emotional milestones do not do well in school. These children are at a higher risk for learning and behavioral problems and juvenile delinquency.
Key Social and emotional skills children need:
- Confidence
- Capacity to develop good relationships with peers and adults
- Concentration and persistence on challenging tasks
- Ability to effectively communicate emotions
- Ability to listen to instructions and be attentive
- Ability to solve social problems
Guiding Principles for Understanding the Well-Being of Infants and Young Children
- Optimal physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of the infant and young child is interdependent and occurs within the context of secure and healthy relationships with caregivers, particularly in the relationship between parent and child.
- Although an infant’s characteristics and reactions contribute significantly to the relationship, the parent carries the primary responsibility for establishing and maintaining a secure attachment.
- Nurturing styles are greatly influenced by parent’s experiences with his or her own parents and the stressors the parent is experiencing. Other influences may include the extent to which the parent is being supported and nurtured, and the ability to take advantage of available supports.
- Nurturing styles are profoundly affected by cultural practices and also show great individual variation from family to family.
- Involvement of mothers and fathers in the care and nurturance of their children, beginning at conception, is an important factor in healthy development, and merits encouragement and facilitation.
- Family mental health, particularly, maternal mental health, has a significant role in the development of infant emotional well-being.