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Emotional Development of Adolescents

The emotional development of adolescents seems ever more complex in a changing and challenging world. With new ways of communicating with one and another and the ability to remain in close touch with parents, or to “turn parents off,” adolescents pose a challenge to themselves and those who care about them.

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Emotional Development in Babies

During their first several years of life, babies learn not only how to handle their own emotions, but also how to read emotions of others. This emotional development occurs naturally and slowly, as the child becomes more in tune with the world around him and aware of stimuli in his environment. As your child moves through this developmental process, he will become even more responsive to you and aware of the world in which he lives.

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Toddler Emotional Development

Toddlers have been described as “long on will and short on skill.” This is a time of major transitions and growing pains. Toddlers are transitioning from fully dependent babies into children with separate identities. Toddlers like to explore as long as their parents are within reach. Many toddlers trot off from mom or dad and then “touch base” with their parents, a symbol of their budding independence.

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Social & Emotional Development in Preschoolers

Preschoolers are a whirlwind of energy and imagination. One minute she can impress you with her cooperative behavior only to frustrate you the next by having a meltdown at the mall. The social and emotional development of 3- and 4-year-olds transitioning from toddlers into school-age children is as important as her cognitive and physical development. According to a survey of kindergarten teachers by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, the most important factors in school readiness are health, communication skills, enthusiasm/curiosity, turn-taking and attention span. The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child states that the core features of emotional development include the ability to identify and express his own feelings properly as well as empathize with others. The tendency for parents and preschool teachers to push the basics (ABC’s, counting, shapes, colors) can sometimes cause socio-emotional skills to be overlooked.