Parenting comes with skills that we must inculcate for the growth and development of our special, unique and amazing children.
It is so disheartening to know that most times we underestimate the power of a touch, a word, a giggle, a sincere compliment or the little act of love and generosity, all of which we both know act as a great and prestigious potentials to turn that child life at that point in time.
Social and emotional are literally two different words together. Parents, I totally understand that discerning the socio-emotional experience of your child is not pretty easy but we practically have to make it easy, because it’s your lovely kids we are talking about here.
Social emotions are conscious mental reactions of young children (because we are talking about our kids here) that depends on the feelings of other people as anticipated and experienced at the premier stage of first hand.
So many Parents may ask these questions – “what social emotions can see in my young child”? we have lots of socio emotive traits in your child but I will tell you the common traits they include: shame, embarrassment, empathy, pride, envy, jealousy and few others.
What am trying to say here in contrasts is that basic emotions such as hapinesss and sadness solely require the awareness of the child’s physical state.
Based on my research, the development of social cognition (mental processes and results of this mental processes), the ability to assess other people mental state which generally develops in adolescence studies have found that children as young as 2 to 3 years of age can express emotions such as; guilt and remorse. Note that ages outside this age brackets are also affected.
Recognising if someone is in the right frame of mind (psychologically and emotionally) and understanding our thoughts and being able to relate with others is a skill that we must pass to our young children.
One thought provoking question parents may ask is,” How do we impact socio- emotional development to our children?
Parents help to train or should I rather use the word “nurture” socio-emotional skills in their children. This helps to develop health growth, relationship and development with their friends, siblings and without exception, family members.
They are also watching you, you must be a role model, be responsive( once they ask questions don’t ever keep them in the dark, try your best to answer their questions,use stories (when answering questions or solutions, tell stories interesting and practical stories).
Encourage your kids (they might not meet to your expectations but please don’t use insulting words, try to encourage them). Never compare your your children (once your children do something very bad, draw them closer and correct them in love. Don’t ever compare them with other children especially their friends. It only affects their social and emotional health.
Ask your them questions. Spare at least two days a week asking dynamic questions and telling them how amazing, be beautiful, handsome, intelligent and unique.
Socio-emotional learning is not a quick lesson, it grows daily. Funny enough, Many parents or adults never Master it. Practice makes perfection. Day by day, the more practice your kids gets, the better they will be able to express themselves.
Before I conclude, let me answer this question, “What do socio-emotional development skills help children do”?. Children with healthy socio-emotional skills succeed in school and in their lifetime as a whole. Socio-emotional skills helps them to make friends and keep those friendships, Gain awareness of what others are feeling, gain confidence, resist negative and social pressure, resolve conflicts among their friends and lastly learn strengthen and weakness. They also tend to be open minded to their parents to troubled situations.
Children are leaders of today, don’t tamper with their future simply because their socio-emotional health have been ignorantly tampered on. Train them up in a way that when they are old, they will never depart from it.
Our children are game changers and record breakers.
