NAEYC

Social and Emotional Development

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Social and emotional development is just as important to children's learning as their academic development. NAEYC's resources offer information about the latest research, ideas for classroom practice, and strategies to share with families.

Making Peace in Kindergarten

Read about one teacher's research and observations as she explores how to create a more peaceful and inclusive classroom.

Making Peace in Kindergarten
Children working together as they care for a plant.

Spotlight on Young Children: Social and Emotional Development

Explore how teachers can use the opportunities embedded in their classroom practices, routines, and lessons to nurture healthy behaviors in children from birth through third grade. 

New Spotlight Book!
Young girls playing together with water.

Great Classroom Examples

Infants playing instruments
Article

Rocking and Rolling—It Takes Two: The Role of Co-Regulation in Building Self-Regulation Skills

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Young children enjoy a read aloud
Article

Culturally Responsive Strategies to Support Young Children with Challenging Behavior

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A child uses the mood meter to share her current feelings.
Article

Teaching Emotional Intelligence in Early Childhood

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Teacher guiding student with STEM game
Blog

Make STEM Social to Motivate Preschoolers

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Unhappy girl with trio of girls behind her.
Article

"I Won't Be Your Friend If You Don't!" Preventing and Responding to Relational Aggression in Preschool Classrooms

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two little girls, one of whom has a Band-Aid on her leg
Article

The Boo-Boo Curriculum

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Books that Support Social and Emotional Development

Cover of Powerful Interactions: How to Connect with Children to Extend Their Learning, Second Edition
Book

Powerful Interactions: How to Connect with Children to Extend Their Learning, Second Edition

Members Only
Cover of Powerful Interactions book

(E-Book) Powerful Interactions: How to Connect with Children to Extend Their Learning, Second Edition *All Sales are Final

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To Share with Families

Mother hugging two sons in the kitchen that are sitting in her lap

Building Social and Emotional Skills at Home

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Toddlers hugging

10 Tips for Raising a Compassionate Infant-Toddler

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Baby with hand in her mouth

Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite

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Most Recent

preschool
Blog
September 24, 2024

Preparing Young Children for School

In this blog, Rebecca Newman-Gonchar shares relevant findings from a recently released practice guide that underscores the importance of developmentally appropriate practice during back to school time.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Rebecca Newman-Gonchar
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a picture of Jana boddy, this months member spotlight.
Article
Young Children
September 2, 2024

Member Spotlight: Jana Boddy

Jana has worked in the field for more than 20 years, working in instructional, leadership, and advocacy experiences. She has taught pre-K, directed child care centers, and managed the early learning program of Catholic Charities of Baltimore.
Members Only
children paying attention to their teacher
Article
Young Children
June 3, 2024

The LEARN Framework: Supporting Self-Regulation in Diverse Early Childhood Settings

NAEYC promotes high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. We advance a diverse early childhood profession and support all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Tahnee L. Wilder, Ashley Y. Grays, Fanica Young, Danica Moise, Sharde Theodore
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the cover of the publication, young children, summer 2024
Issue
Young Children
Vol. 79, No. 2
June 3, 2024

Summer 2024

Self-Regulation and Executive Function: Responsive and Informed Practices for Early Childhood
This issue of Young Children offers a range of ideas for how early childhood professionals can translate important findings into actionable steps in their own settings to nurture executive function skills.
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a teacher building blocks with a child
Article
Teaching Young Children
April 1, 2024

Individualizing Approaches Through Intentional Practice: A Family Educator’s Experience

In this article, we share examples of intentional practices in a family child care setting, and we highlight how these approaches can be adapted by educators in other types of programs to foster an inclusive learning community.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Elena Bacmeister, Dorothy Shapland Rodriguez, Margarita (Mar) Taylor, Renae Cueves Días
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a group of children dancing
Article
Young Children
March 1, 2024

Integrating the Arts into Preschool Literacy Practices

Teachers can use the Stories Make Readers model to create arts activities that increase children’s literacy engagement.

Authored by

Authored by: 
Juli-Anna Aerila, Merja Kauppinen, Johanna Lähteelä, Mari Siipola
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a portrait of Delysia S. Riddick
Article
Young Children
December 1, 2023

Member Spotlight: Delysia S. Riddick

Meet Delysia S. Riddick, an early childhood mental health consultant in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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