Each child develops in the contexts of relationships with trusted adults. You play a key role in helping staff members understand the ways children develop across domains. This lesson focuses on how children develop social and emotional competence from birth to age 12.  This lesson will provide an overview of expected development, ideas on how to promote social-emotional development in your program, and guidance on talking to staff members about promoting children’s social-emotional growth.

Environments and activities have great potential to support social and emotional development. In this lesson, you will learn to help staff members design spaces and activities that promote social interactions and emotional well-being. You will explore the role of culture in social-emotional development and learn ways to help staff members support all learners. You will learn strategies for observing and providing feedback to staff members about ways their environments and activities support social and emotional development.

Relationships are the foundation of social-emotional health. In this lesson you will learn about four types of relationships: relationships between children, relationships between children and adults, relationships between your staff and families, and relationships among staff members in your program. You will also learn how to help support these relationships in your program.

Conflicts are bound to happen from time to time, but staff members can take important steps to make these conflicts teaching opportunities. This lesson will teach you strategies you can help staff use in classrooms and programs. It will also offer strategies to help you model the problem-solving process. You will practice observing and providing feedback to staff members about the ways they handle and prevent conflicts.