Early Childhood Education: Social and Emotional Development

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Early Childhood EducationSocial and Emotional
Development

• Dr. K. A. Korb
• University of Jos

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Outline

• Interpersonal Skills Ability to relate with
  others
• Peer Relationships
• Child-Teacher Relationships
• Intrapersonal Skills Ability to understand
  oneself
• Emotional Literacy
• Self Esteem
• Assimilating into school culture
• Behavior Management

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial Development
Stage Age Crisis
Infancy 0-1 Trust vs. Mistrust
Early Childhood 2-3 Autonomy vs. Shame Doubt
Preschool 3-5 Initiative vs. Guilt
Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Piagets Stages of Cognitive Development
Stage Age Key Characteristics
Sensorimotor 0-2 Thinks via senses
Pre-Operational 2-7 Can use mental symbols Thinks unidirectionally Egocentric
Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Teaching Social/Emotional Skills

• Research has demonstrated that social skills are
  associated with school success (Denham Burton,
  2003)
• Prosocial behaviors foster peer and teacher
  relationships
• Helping, sharing, taking turns
• Self-regulation skills hinder aggression
• Social skills are associated with emotional
  competence

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Teaching Social/Emotional Skills

• Preschool teachers strongly influence young
  childrens social-emotional development (Pianta
  Stuhlman, 2004)
• Formal vs. Informal teaching of social and
  emotional skills
• Formal instruction in social and emotional skills
  results in positive child development
• I Can Problem Solve
• Als Pals Kids Making Healthy Choices

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Teaching Social/Emotional Skills

• Importance of teaching social/emotional skills
• Skills are necessary for children to be
  successful in school and the culture
• Prevent behavior problems
• Do not teach social skills only when problem
  behaviors occur
• Problem has happened
• Children are upset
• Teacher attention may reinforce negative behavior
• Teach social skills also before incidents happen

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Social and Emotional Development consists of

• Sense of confidence and competence
• Ability to form good relationships with peers and
  adults
• Ability to identify, understand, and communicate
  feelings
• Constructively managing strong emotions
• Develop empathy
• Ability to persist at tasks
• Ability to follow directions

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Checklist of Social Skills (McClellan Katz,
1977)

• Approaches peers positively
• Clearly and appropriately expresses needs
• Not easily intimidated by bullies
• Expresses frustration and anger positively
• Easily joins peers in work or play
• Participates in discussions and activities
• Ability to take turns
• Shows an interest in peers
• Can compromise with peers
• Accepts people of diverse ethnic groups
• Uses appropriate nonverbal communication

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Teaching Peer Interactions

• Directly teach the social skill
• Model the behavior
• In person or with puppets
• Allow for practice

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Teacher-Child Relationships

• Children will model the teachers behavior
• Be courteous
• Show interest in childrens lives
• Ask for childrens input when possible
• Develop close, caring relationships with the
  children

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Child Environment Relationship

• Teach children to become aware of and to take
  care of the environment
• Pick up trash in and around the school yard
• Study the trash scientific observation skills
• Plant trees
• Biology

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Emotional Literacy

• Types of Emotions
• Core emotions Joy, anger, sadness fear
• Complex emotions Frustration, annoyance,
  boredom, jealousy
• Teaching Emotional Literacy
• Recognize and label feelings
• You must feel hurt.
• Accept feelings
• It is ok to feel hurt when your friend ignores
  you.
• Encourage appropriate responses to feelings
• What is a better way we can deal with these
  feelings?

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Managing Conflict

• Help the child accept their feelings as valid
• Help the child verbalize emotions
• Suggest alternative behaviors

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Managing Anger

• Teach children
• That anger can interfere with problem solving
• How to recognize anger in themselves and their
  peers
• How to calm down
• Appropriate ways to express anger

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Turtle Technique

• Recognize
• that you
• feel angry.

Think Stop.

• Go into shell. Take 3 deep breathes. And
  think calm, coping thoughts.

Come out of shell when calm and think of a
solution.


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Building Self Esteem

• Self-Esteem How you feel about yourself
• Three components (Kostelnik et al., 2006)
• Competence Accomplish goals
• Worth Valued by others
• Control Ability to influence environment

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Building Self Esteem

• Daily Encouragement
• Sincere, specific, regular attention to children
• Point out the relationship between a childs
  successes and their personal strengths
• Planned Activities
• VIP (Very Important Person) of the Week is
  allowed special privileges and an opportunity to
  share with the class

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Classroom Activities to Promote Social/Emotional
Development

• What aspects of social or emotional development
  is the lesson aimed to teach?
• What are the strengths of the lesson?
• What would you improve to make the lesson more
  effective?

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Internet Resources

• Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations
  for Early Learning What Works Briefs
• Promote young childrens emotional development
• Present scientific evidence for best practices
• http//www.vanderbilt.edu/csefel/
• Activities to promote development for young
  children
• http//www.teacherquicksource.com/headstart/defaul
  t.aspx

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos
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Revision

• What social skills are necessary for young
  children to develop?
• What are some strategies for teaching these
  social skills in ECE programs?
• What emotional skills are necessary for young
  children to develop?
• What are some strategies for teaching these
  social skills in ECE programs?
• Why is teaching social and emotional skills
  important?

Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos