FAMILY SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Families and educators can work together to support children’s social and emotional development. Children benefit when the adults in their lives provide opportunities to practice communication, emotional awareness, problem-solving, and self-regulation.

STRATEGIES FAMILIES CAN USE AT HOME

Emotion Identification

Ask children to identify how they feel and explain why.

Problem-Solving

Instead of immediately solving a child’s problem, ask:

“What do you think we could try?”

Positive Communication

Encourage children to communicate their feelings respectfully.

Reading

Read stories together and ask questions such as:

“How do you think this character feels?”

“What could the character do?”

Routines

Consistent routines can help children know what to expect and provide structure.

Modeling

Adults can model healthy emotional regulation during everyday situations.

For example:

“I am frustrated right now, so I am going to take a few breaths before I respond.”

FAMILY-TEACHER COMMUNICATION

Teachers can ask families:

• What helps your child calm down?
• What situations frustrate your child?
• What activities does your child enjoy?
• How does your child communicate when upset?
• What strengths have you noticed?

Families should be treated as partners. Teachers should respect differences in family structures, cultures, experiences, and communication styles.