Social-emotional development of the preschooler Unit 5

Taking the Initiative Becoming more independent Improved abilities Limitless energy Strong desire to learn and explore

Erikson – Initiative vs. Guilt Initiative = The ability to think or act without being urged. Developing initiative is important because it sets the stage for ambitions later in life. Yet, initiative can lead to failures. Too many failures can lead to guilt. Guilt = Blaming yourself for something done wrong. SO… caregivers need to make sure children know that it is OK to make mistakes! All of this is according to Erik Erikson. Do you agree? Disagree? Why? What are your thoughts? Can you think of a time when you took the initiative as a child to try something new? Did you succeed? Did you fail? Think about a time when you did fail at something… did you feel this “guilt” that Erkison is talking about? How did your parents/caregivers/siblings help you overcome it?

Showing Responsibility First step toward dependence Adults should show examples Select age-appropriate tasks What are some chores that would be appropriate for a preschooler?

Learning Gender Roles Preschoolers are beginning to grasp the concept of how to fit into certain social groups Family, school, clubs, and others Gender-role learning = learning what behavior is expected of males and females Gender role is a major concept children learn in the preschool years.

How does gender role develop? By how others treat them and how they see others in their male or female roles Sex-typing = treating boys and girls differently Clothing Toys The way parents react Children most often identify and imitate models of the same gender as well as: Teachers Characters from TV, movies, and storybooks Does sex-typing exist throughout all of childhood and adolescence?

Cultural Differences Society’s view of male and female is not as clearly defined as it once was! Traditional views: Male – more aggressive, economic head of the family Female – wife, mother How many of your mom’s stay-at-home? Society’s view has CHANGED!

Sexual stereotyping = a statement or even a hint that men and women always do or should do certain tasks.

Extending Social Relations Social learnings: Sharing Controlling anger Thinking of other’s feelings Making joint efforts with others

Adults are still important Still depend on adults for many of their needs Adults are social models Teach by example Model relationships Morals Self-control Manners And much more!!

Other children become more important Siblings and peers are more important to preschool children than toddlers Preschoolers do react to other children differently. Some preschoolers have fun playing with other children and some do not

Making Friends Depends on the following: child’s friendliness Ability to follow group rules Lack of dependence on adults Prefer friends of the same gender Self-centered view about friendships They see friends as people who play with you, help you, share their toys with you, etc. Creates a closed circle of friends “You can’t play with us!”

Learning from Play Groups Play experiences are richer with others Learn new ideas Behave with peers Learn to play fairly Become less self-centered Learn that friends are fun! 

Feeling and Controlling Emotions Preschoolers still react to common childlike stressors (situations that cause stress) These may include: Illness Moving Death Adult quarrels Divorce

Feeling and Controlling Emotions Controlling outward signs of emotions such crying, screaming and hitting to help children become socially acceptable! However, if children control emotions without admitting their underlying feelings to themselves and others, they may become emotionally troubled. Children need to express themselves! “I am angry.” “I am afraid.”

Dependency Preschoolers feel a conflict between their need for dependence and independence! Sometimes preschoolers ask for help and they really do need it and other times they ask for help even when they don’t!  Emotional Dependence: The act of seeing attention, approval, comfort and contact. Do you think that some teenagers feel a conflict between their need for dependence and independence, too? It may not exist for you… but if it does… how is it different from a preschooler? And sometimes…. Preschoolers don’t ask for help and the need it! 

Fear and Anxiety Some toddler fears fade away and preschoolers develop new fears, some increase. Fear of the unknown Monsters, Robbers Fear of physical injury Fear of death by fire, auto accident, drowning, the fear of bites from insects or animals Fear of pain caused by medical and dental work Anxiety of a general nature Fear of a tornado may spread to thunderstorms and high winds I LOVED going to the dentist as a kid! I think I’m one in a million who do… but I always loved going. How many of you feared going to the dentist?

Anger and Aggression Anger and Aggression being around 10 months of age. They peak with displays of temper in the toddler years and continue in the preschool years. Preschoolers tend to hit and bite less than toddlers. Yet they tend to threaten and yell more! Boys are more physical and girls are more verbal even in the preschool stage!

Causes of Anger and Aggression Preschoolers use aggression to Get their way Hurt another Gain attention Gain affection

Jealousy Begins when people realize they must share with others the love, attention, possessions, and time once only given to them. Most common time for jealousy is a new baby brother or sister Repressed jealousy = Feelings of jealousy not directly expressed and may even be denied. Show this type through nightmares, physical problems (headaches, upset stomachs, fevers, change in appetite)