Children of this age group start to display understanding and awareness of their own and other people’s emotions. They also begin to develop greater self control of themselves. At six to seven years old, children show more confidence in themselves and in areas that they feel comfortable in and good at. Children of this age will also tend to gain emotional stability from people that they feel secure with.
According to Joyce Destfanis, M.A., and Nancy Firchow, M.L.S., a six year old child’s emotional development has these key points:
- They grow more independent
- They crave affection from parents and teachers
- They may be hurt by criticism, blame, or punishment
- Can be rigid, demanding, and unable to adapt
- They are increasingly aware that others have different feelings
1st grade aged children are being held more responsible at school and at home. They need continued emotional support from parents and teachers.
Parents and teachers can help promote emotional development in children. Emotional development begins early in life with parents and care givers. Children need to feel loved and safe to help children’s emotional development thrive. According to McDevitt and Ormrod, teacher’s can help promote emotional development by:
- Creating an atmosphere of warmth, acceptance, and trust
- They can use a research based curriculum for fostering emotional development
- Offer age appropriate outlets for emotional expression
- Discuss emotions experienced by characters in literature and history
- Ask children to guess what emotions people may feel in particular scenarios
- Take cultural differences into account
- Help children keep anxiety at a manageable level
- Pay attention to your own emotions
- Model appropriate ways of dealing with negative emotions
Emotional development occurs in stages throughout childhood but regardless of age, children need continued support and care. Many children do not get the emotional support from home that they need. Because of this situation, teachers must insert development into their classroom setting.
