PRESCHOOL Emotional Development

Beginning of Need for Independence Increased independence is important in this stage Begin spending their day away from parents and caregivers Tend to still be self-centered

4 Years Olds  Can be defiant, impatient and loud  Can argue and be bossy to other children and even adults  Can also be loving and affectionate  Need and seek approval of parents and caregivers Need for ApprovalNeed for Approval

4 Years Olds  Often will laugh at things adults do not find funny (ex. calling someone “poo poo head”)  Will test adults to see their reaction  Have active imaginations, and sometimes have trouble distinguishing between fact and fiction What is Funny? What is Real?What is Funny? What is Real?

5 Years Olds  Begin to realize the differences in their feelings  Want to explore the real world  Still can be afraid of unfamiliar places, people and experiences, as well as being left alone It’s the Real World Kids!It’s the Real World Kids!

5 Years Old  Need to help them cope with the anxieties by listening to concerns and then offering support  Children’s adaptability may depend on the environment that they have grown up in  Can be very impulsive, but start to learn to control their impulses during school Learning to CopeLearning to Cope

6 Years Olds  Can go through a period of emotional turmoil  Spending full days at school can add to this  Want to be independent, but so much time away from home makes them long to be a little kid still  Long for praise and approval easily hurt and discouraged Full School Days = TurmoilFull School Days = Turmoil

6 Years Olds  Though they love their parents, they can act the worst towards them  Experience rapid moods changes  Love, hate, accept, reject, smile and yell at the same time for no apparent reason  Begins to understand feeling of joy ---- leading to appreciation of activities Emotional Rollercoaster RideEmotional Rollercoaster Ride

ANGERSpecific Emotions…ANGER ANGER  Changes more throughout childhood than any other emotion  Though they can still resort to physical violence, preschoolers tend to express anger with words

ANGERSpecific Emotions…ANGER 4 year olds  Longer anger episodes  Still resort to physical violence: hitting, kicking, biting, throwing, pushing 5 year olds  Begin to use words to express anger 6 year olds  Begin to tease, insult, nag and make fun of others

ANGERSpecific Emotions…ANGER Frustration is a major cause of anger, as well as the tolerance of their frustration Disagreements with other children also cause anger and outbursts Criticism can also be a cause of anger

ANGERSpecific Emotions…ANGER Anger outbursts diminish over time  Can control frustrations more  Can begin to talk about what is making them angry  Social skills improve  Learn self control

FEARSpecific Emotions…FEAR FEAR  Imaginations of preschool age children can lead to even more fears  May be afraid of ghosts or monsters, spiders or bugs, loud noises, the dark, strangers, certain Halloween costumes, and being left alone  Fear can also be related to school Being criticized by the teachers or others Being teased

FEARSpecific Emotions…FEAR To deal with fear:  Accept the fear – listening and trying to understand, rather than dismissing  Don’t ridicule the child for the fear  Help them face their fear – talking about it or reading a book about it may help

Specific Emotions… JEALOUSY  Sibling rivalry can be a cause  May also want material things that other have (pink cowboy boots or a Wii)  Can be jealous of attention an adult or friend is receiving