According to the U.S. Department of Education, it is vital that young children successfully transition through early childhood social development stages in order to effectively mature and develop healthy mental health as adults. By the age of 6, children should reach certain social development milestones based on observable behaviors. Child social skills are measured by their ability to get along with other children, not on academic performance or appropriate classroom and home behavior.
Relationships with Peers
Children do not have to be popular or socially outgoing to be considered healthy. According to the U.S. Department of Education, once children get into preschool, and during the first and second grade, their social development should be measured by how often the child is included in activities with other children, making sure they are not shunned because of their poor communication skills. Healthy social skills usually mean the child is sometimes invited to play with other kids and usually accepted when he makes friendly overtures.
Relationship with Adults
Children should begin a process of becoming independent during their toddler years and be sufficiently self-actualized by the time they are 5 or 6. According to the Illinois Early Learning Project, healthy social development means children are not overly reliant on their parents for direction. They are appropriately vigilant when meeting new adults and not overly frightened or shy.
Individual Attributes
Children should not be severely lonely or outcast when in situations with other children. According to the U.S. Department of Education, healthy children develop a level of empathy toward other children and care about their welfare. They usually are in a good mood and easily adapt to changes and discipline. They are mostly willing to go to daycare or preschool and have developed a sense of humor.
Social Skills
Social skills in the behavior checklist are easily recognized when a child is interacting with other kids, according to the Illinois Early Learning Project. Healthily developed children can interact with other kids through body language such as waving, nodding and smiling at them. They know how to take turns and handle rejection relatively easily. They can assert their own needs in appropriate ways and don't readily succumb to bullying. Healthy children can join others in play and do not have to be the center of attention. They don't hurt other children and appreciate the differences in physical abilities, genders and race among their playmates. They have a basic level of negotiating skills and have closer friendships with at least one or two other kids in the class.
