Page 21 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 4 May 2024

Initiative
TODAY'S CHILD

IT IS THE AGE OF ME, MYSELF, experience, understand and manage From an emotional perspective:
AND I. emotions while building relationships.
It is typical for preschoolers to be Our children gradually learn to express • Developing independence and
egocentric. Young children see and manage their own emotions while social skills which they use for
everything happening around them as learning to respond appropriately to learning and getting on with
it relates to them. They are unable to those of others. others at preschool and, later,
differentiate between some aspects of school.
themselves and others. Their perspective What to expect at this age? • Enjoys playing with other
is the only one that matters. They are children.
not being selfish; they simply don’t yet From an behavioural perspective,
understand a different point of view. preschooler’s development includes the • May have a particular friend.
They are also straight shooters and following:
say it as it is, for example “I don’t like • Understands when someone is • Begins to share more and
you anymore and don’t want to be your hurt and may want to comfort cooperate with peers.
friend.” It can be hard for them to play them.
co-operatively, to share and help, and • Manipulates objects jointly with
often, their behaviour may be seen as • May show a stronger preference one or two other peers.
socially damaging. This doesn’t mean for same-sex playmates. What happens when a child lacks social-
preschoolers are intentionally nasty, emotional development?
bullying, or doing anything negative – • May enforce gender-role norms
they still have to learn that other people with peers. Delayed or stunted social-emotional
have feelings and can be hurt by words development at preschool age manifests
and actions. They will still learn to apply • Attains gender stability (sure in the form of behavioural problems.
filters, empathy, kindness and so on – all she/he is a girl/boy). These result in an increased risk of
those social skills that help us get along. • May have bouts of aggression adversity for the child during their school-
WHAT IS SOCIAL with peers. going years. Hence, the child could face
various challenges such as ongoing
DEVELOPMENT? • Likes to give and receive behavioural problems, poor academic
Social development is about creating, affection from parents. results and even psychiatric disorders.
building and sustaining meaningful
relationships with others. It is a gradual, • May praise themselves and be How can parents help?
integrative process in which children boastful.
acquire the capacity to express, • A great way to help

“Preschoolers are egocentric”

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