Early Social Development
Overview
This course introduces the foundational stages of social and emotional development from birth through age 8, emphasizing how young children build the skills they need to connect, communicate, and collaborate. Educators will explore how early relationships, play, emotional learning, and cultural context shape children’s developing sense of trust, empathy, and identity. Participants will learn to recognize key social milestones, understand attachment styles, and support children’s emerging abilities to express emotions, resolve conflicts, and take others’ perspectives. By drawing connections between developmental science and daily classroom practice, the course equips educators to create inclusive, nurturing environments that promote secure relationships, peer connection, and healthy emotional expression.
Learning objectives
- Understand the key milestones of social development from birth to age 8, including the role of attachment, play, empathy, and peer relationships in shaping social and emotional growth
- Explore how emotion regulation and communication skills develop through co-regulation, adult modeling, cultural influences, and responsive teaching practices
- Apply developmentally appropriate strategies—such as play-based learning, storytelling, and group activities—to support social interaction, perspective-taking, and inclusive relationship-building in early learning settings.