Social and emotional skills include skills of self-awareness, self-regulation, and display of emotions. Being able to pay attention, make transitions from one activity to another, and cooperate with others, for example, becomes an important part of school readiness.

What follows are typical milestones for social and emotional development in young children, as well as warning signs of possible delays. There is a wide range of typical development. However, follow up with a pediatrician if your child shows signs of delays.

Birth to Three Months

• Cries in response to others crying
• Is comforted when held, rocked, or spoken to
• Calms when swaddled
• Develops a social smile

Three to Six Months

• Demonstrates emotions of sadness, contentment, surprise, joy, anger
• Enjoys social play with others and may cry when play stops
• Attempts to attract attention by making sounds, smiling, or making eye contact

Six to Twelve Months

• Develops preferences for people and toys
• Prefers mother or caregiver over others
• Becomes shy and more anxious around strangers
• Cries when caregiver leaves
• Begins to test parental response to behavior and activities

Twelve to Eighteen Months
By 15 months:

• Begins to have some self-awareness and recognizes self compared to others
• Has increasing separation anxiety
• Shows affection
• Shares with adults

By 18 months:

• Plays alone with toys for fifteen minutes
• Plays alongside other children
• Plays simple games with other children

Eighteen to Twenty-four Months

• Imitates behaviors of others
• Begins to demonstrate the emotions of embarrassment, empathy, and envy
• Increasingly demonstrates independence from caregivers
• Begins to share for brief moments, but most often competes for toys

Two to Three Years

• Imitates adults and children
• Shows affection for other playmates
• Objects to major changes in the routine
• Separates from the parents more willingly
• Begins to take turns with other children, although not consistently

Three to Five Years

• Demonstrates some increasingly aggressive behavior, which may decrease by age five
• Begins to have a group of friends
• Begins to cooperate with others
• Shares more often
• Is interested in new experiences
• Demonstrates greater ability to agree with rules
• May see unfamiliar objects as “monsters”
• Integrates increased detail into imaginary play
• May play “mom” or “dad” in imaginary play
• Enjoys singing, dancing, and acting
• Wants to please others

Signs of Possible Developmental Delays: Social and Emotional
Helpful article if you suspect your child may have developmental delays.

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