Social-Emotional Development: Preschool

Character Development

Responsible Decision-Making & Problem-Solving

Personal Development

Social Development

Foundations of Character Development

Begin to develop the skills necessary to recognize and acknowledge the feelings and needs of others and how positive choices contribute to a safe community.

Demonstrates awareness of personal time and responsibilities within predictable routines.

Develop, implement and model effective problem-solving skills.

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social Awareness

Interpersonal Skills

Develop understanding of appropriate behaviors.

Foster caring attachments between fellow children, staff and the community.

Demonstrate mutual respect and utilize strategies to build a safe and productive culture.

Demonstrate actions and facilitate experiences that promote empathy, positive interactions and respectful relationships. 

Expresses and develops an understanding of thoughts and emotions of self and others.

Develops and communicates a sense of self and positive identity.

Understand and practice strategies for managing emotions and behaviors.

Reflect on perspectives and emotional responses.

Set, monitor, adapt and evaluate goals to achieve success in social settings.

Demonstrate awareness of the thoughts, feelings and perspectives of others.

Express comfort and joy in human diversity and develop accurate language for differences.

Demonstrate communication and social skills to interact effectively.

Develop and maintain positive relationships.

Demonstrate an ability to prevent, manage and resolve interpersonal conflicts

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Pre 3

Pre 4

Responds to feedback from familiar adults about appropriate behavior.

Follows adult guidelines and expectations for appropriate behavior.

Becomes increasingly aware of effects of own behavior on others.

Recognizes effect of own behavior on others most of the time.

Recognizes examples and nonexamples of words and actions that are helpful or hurtful.

Shows awareness of feelings of others with adult guidance and support.

Shows awareness of and responds to feelings of others with adult guidance and support.

Expresses interests, acceptance, affection for others.

Demonstrates an understanding of what it means to be a friend. 

Begin to understand consequences of own actions with adult support.

Anticipates and usually accepts consequences of own actions.

Follows predictable classroom routines and manages transitions positively most of the time when supported by an adult.

Follows predictable classroom routines and manages transitions positively in most situations with minimal adult support as needed.

Manages (i.e., expresses, inhibits or redirects) emotions, impulses and behaviors with support from an adult.

Uses simple conflict resolution techniques.

Manages emotions, impulses and behaviors with minimal guidance from adults.

Attempts to solve social problems independently, by negotiation or with adult assistance.

Recognizes and identifies own emotions and starts to recognize and identify the emotions of others with adult support.

Begins to express and respond to a range of emotions in socially acceptable ways.

Recognizes and identifies more complex emotions in self and others, with accuracy with adult support.

Expresses and responds to a range of emotions in socially acceptable ways.

Describes self by using several basic characteristics.

States basic personal information, like name and age. 

Displays awareness of own thoughts and feelings.

Describes characteristics of self and in relationship to others.

States more complex personal information, like names of family members or names of neighbors.

Makes personal needs and desires known.

Begins to demonstrate the ability to release and/or redirect emotional tensions, with adult help, becoming more relaxed and cooperative afterward.

Expresses preferences in a socially acceptable way most of the time.

Develops strategies to express strong emotion and calm self with adult help.

Recognizes own feelings when an adult labels them.

Recognizes and accurately describes own feelings most of the time.

Completes own goal-directed activities and recognizes accomplishments while learning rules and values of family and culture.

Demonstrates age-appropriate independence in decisionmaking regarding activities and materials.

Expresses concern for the needs of others and people in distress.

Responds to needs of others and people in distress in caring ways. 

Demonstrates an understanding of which forms of emotional expression are acceptable for a given environment.

Compares own characteristics with those of others.

Recognizes and respects similarities and differences between self and others.

Treats others with respect when conflict or differences occur, given adult support.

Follows rules and simple one-two-step directions.

Begins to display socially competent behavior with peers.

Begins to participate in conversational turn-taking.

Displays socially competent behavior with peers.

Participates in conversational turn-taking by listening and responding to what was said.

Demonstrates strategies to join a play group with adult support.

Invites other children to join groups or activities.

Shows interest in having a friend.

Develops friendships with one or two preferred peers.

Demonstrates an understanding of which forms of emotional expression are acceptable for a given environment.

Adjusts behavior to different settings.

Begins to resolve conflicts with peers, given adult assistance.

Resolves conflicts with peers, seeking adult assistance when necessary. 

Demonstrates flexibility in solving problems; will change plans if a better idea is thought of or proposed.