SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE PRESCHOOLER

Unit 5

Taking the Initiative

Becoming more independent Improved abilities Limitless energy Strong desire to learn and explore

Erikson – Initiative vs. Guilt

Initiative = The ability to think or act without being urged. Developing initiative is important because it

sets the stage for ambitions later in life. Yet, initiative can lead to failures. Too many

failures can lead to guilt. Guilt = Blaming yourself for something

done wrong. SO… caregivers need to make sure children

know that it is OK to make mistakes!

Showing Responsibility

First step toward dependence Adults should show examples Select age-appropriate tasks

What are some chores that would be appropriate for a preschooler?

Learning Gender Roles

Preschoolers are beginning to grasp the concept of how to fit into certain social groups Family, school, clubs, and others

Gender-role learning = learning what behavior is expected of males and females

Gender role is a major concept children learn in the preschool years.

How does gender role develop? By how others treat them and how they see

others in their male or female roles Sex-typing = treating boys and girls differently

Clothing Toys The way parents react

Children most often identify and imitate models of the same gender as well as: Teachers Characters from TV, movies, and storybooks

Cultural Differences

Society’s view of male and female is not as clearly defined as it once was!

Traditional views: Male – more aggressive, economic head of

the family Female – wife, mother

How many of your mom’s stay-at-home?

Society’s view has CHANGED!

Sexual stereotyping = a statement or even a hint that men and women always do or should do certain tasks.

Extending Social Relations

Social learnings: Sharing Controlling anger Thinking of other’s feelings Making joint efforts with others

Adults are still important

Still depend on adults for many of their needs

Adults are social models Teach by example

Model relationships Morals Self-control Manners And much more!!

Other children become more important

Siblings and peers are more important to preschool children than toddlers

Preschoolers do react to other children differently. Some preschoolers have fun playing with other children and some do not

Making Friends

Depends on the following: child’s friendliness Ability to follow group rules Lack of dependence on adults

Prefer friends of the same gender Self-centered view about friendships

They see friends as people who play with you, help you, share their toys with you, etc.

Creates a closed circle of friends “You can’t play with us!”

Learning from Play Groups

Play experiences are richer with others Learn new ideas Behave with peers Learn to play fairly Become less self-centered Learn that friends are fun!

Feeling and Controlling Emotions

Preschoolers still react to common childlike stressors (situations that cause stress)

These may include: Illness Moving Death Adult quarrels Divorce

Feeling and Controlling Emotions

Controlling outward signs of emotions such crying, screaming and hitting to help children become socially acceptable!

However, if children control emotions without admitting their underlying feelings to themselves and others, they may become emotionally troubled.

Children need to express themselves! “I am angry.” “I am afraid.”

Dependency

Preschoolers feel a conflict between their need for dependence and independence! Sometimes preschoolers ask for help and

they really do need it and other times they ask for help even when they don’t!

Emotional Dependence: The act of seeing attention, approval, comfort and contact.

Fear and Anxiety

Some toddler fears fade away and preschoolers develop new fears, some increase. Fear of the unknown

Monsters, Robbers Fear of physical injury

Fear of death by fire, auto accident, drowning, the fear of bites from insects or animals

Fear of pain caused by medical and dental work Anxiety of a general nature

Fear of a tornado may spread to thunderstorms and high winds

Anger and Aggression

Anger and Aggression being around 10 months of age. They peak with displays of temper in the toddler years and continue in the preschool years.

Preschoolers tend to hit and bite less than toddlers.

Yet they tend to threaten and yell more! Boys are more physical and girls are

more verbal even in the preschool stage!

Causes of Anger and Aggression

Preschoolers use aggression to Get their way Hurt another Gain attention Gain affection

Jealousy

Begins when people realize they must share with others the love, attention, possessions, and time once only given to them.

Most common time for jealousy is a new baby brother or sister

Repressed jealousy = Feelings of jealousy not directly expressed and may even be denied. Show this type through nightmares, physical

problems (headaches, upset stomachs, fevers, change in appetite)