This area of development involves learning to interact with
other people, and to understand and control your own emotions. Developing the
ability to control your emotions and behavior is also a long process. Children
continue to develop their social-emotional skills well into their teenage
years, or even young adulthood.
The following are some of the typical developmental
milestones for children 5-7 years of age.
- Measures own performance against others
- Feel more comfortable spending time at other places without you (i.e. a relative’s or friends’ house)
- Continue to develop social skills by playing with other children in a variety of situations
- Be able to communicate with others without your help
- Start to feel sensitive about how other children feel about him or her
Red Flags
- Not interested in playing with other children
- Not able to share or take turns with other children
- Dependent on caregivers for everything
- Extremely “rigid” about routines, and becomes extremely upset when things are changed
- Extreme difficulty separating from you
- Is too passive or fearful, and does not want to try things other same age children are doing
- Has extreme fears that interfere with daily activities
If you notice any of these by the time your child is 7 years
old, you may want to talk to your doctor, or another health professional such
as a mental health clinician, a speech-language pathologist, an occupational
therapist, or a psychologist.
