what is social and emotional development

Social and emotional development refers to how children learn to understand and manage their emotions, develop meaningful relationships with others, and acquire social skills. It is a gradual and integrative process that encompasses a wide range of skills and constructs, including self-awareness, play, theory of mind, self-esteem, emotion regulation, friendships, and identity development. Social and emotional development sets a foundation for children to engage in other developmental tasks, such as completing difficult school assignments or maintaining romantic relationships. The assessment of social and emotional development in young children must include an assessment of both child-level factors, such as genetic disorders, physical limitations, or linguistic and cognitive developmental level, as well as contextual factors, such as family and cultural factors. Positive social and emotional development in the early years provides a critical foundation for lifelong development and learning.