Emotional growth and development in children progresses from an infant's total self-involvement to an expanded view that includes consideration of other people's feelings and needs. Although tied to cognitive capability, emotional growth involves interaction with adults and peers that affects a child's self-awareness, self-esteem and perception of appropriate behavior. The observational and comparative studies of psychologists, educators and pediatricians established norms of expected emotional developmental milestones for children.
Emotional Development Factors
From infancy through adolescence, many factors influence the emotional development of a child. A healthy environment that encourages normal emotional development includes frequent and positive interaction with a nurturing figure in early childhood, followed by supervised social interaction at school and socially. Gender and cultural differences influence emotional development. Children raised in an impoverished or violent environment display two to three times more emotional problems, such as aggression, depression and hyperactivity, than children growing up in a safe environment, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty.
Infant Emotional Development
Beginning around 2 months of age, an infant can show pleasure by smiling in the presence of a human face. By 3 months of age, he smiles at the sound of his mother's voice or face and responds to the touch of other people. During this period of emotional development, the infant begins demonstrating interest in objects. Between 4 and 9 months of age, an infant shows strong attachment to his mother or primary caregiver and can express recognizable emotions such as fear, distress, pleasure and anger. Between 10 and 12 months, the infant shows a fear of strangers. Separation anxiety from the caregiver increases significantly between 12 and 18 months of age. Emotional behavior from 18 months through 3 years of age fluctuates between cooperative interactions and oppositional behavior, as the child begins struggling to conform his behavior to external expectations.
Childhood Emotional Milestones
Learning to interact successfully with peers and nonfamily adults characterizes the emotional growth of middle childhood. Between 6 and 10 years of age, children internalize rules and expectations of authority figures and begin regulating their behavior without external correction. School, social and organized activities play an important role in emotional development during these middle years. Children begin having friendships during the middle years that include cooperative play and group social activities. As they develop understanding and appreciation of others' feelings, their emotional developmental milestones include the ability to show care and concern for younger siblings and pets. Increased cognitive and verbal skills enable children in this age range to express feelings verbally rather than physically.
Adolescence
As children move into adolescence, their emotional development becomes more affected by peers than parents or authority figures. Adolescents struggle to develop a sense of personal identity and appreciate consequences of their behavior. Hormonal change significantly influences the emotional behavior of adolescents, often resulting in mood swings from exhilaration to unhappiness. At the completion of adolescence, successful emotional development results in self-reliance and increased emotional stability.
References
- Education; Factors Affecting Social Development; Excerpt from Social Studies for the Preschool/Primary Child; C. Seefeldt; 2005; pages 132-136
- National Center for Children in Poverty; Social-emotional Development in Early Childhood; Janice L. Cooper; August 2009
- University of Virginia Extension: Understanding Growth and Development Patterns of Infants; Novella J. Ruffin; May 2009
- University of Illinois Chicago: Milestones in Social & Emotional Development
- MassGeneral Hospital for Children: Growth and Development
