Social and emotional development has been identified as one of the key factors in children's long term academic and life success. Why is that? These key skills include the regulation of children’s emotions, the ability to solve problems, the ability to interact with others both alike and different from oneself and much more!

Children’s early life experiences help them learn to identify their emotions, develop strategies for handling life’s disappointments and negotiate the complex word of emotions and society. Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to support children’s social and emotional development in a variety of ways. From teaching children the words for their emotions, providing problem-solving strategies that can be applied across a variety of situations and reading books to children where characters work through difficult situations, you can embed these learning opportunities in your child’s day without much additional effort.

In addition to these tips, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension offers a variety of resources to help you build the social and emotional health of young children. These include programs and trainings in the following areas: Building Early Emotional Skills, Setting the Stage: Promoting Positive Social and Emotional Development in Young Children, RELAX: Alternatives to Anger for Parents and Caregivers and Positive Discipline. Check out the Events Calendar to find a training near you or contact us to book an Extension educator to come to your center, library, school or business to offer one of these excellent, research-based trainings.

MSU Extension also offers a variety of downloadable resources for parents and caregivers interested in learning about social and emotional health in young children.