Developing Competence in Small children

Three basic areas of the development are: 

1.  To form & sustain relationships 
2.  To regulate emotions & behaviour 
3.  To co-operate in a pro-social manner with others 

Development of social interaction skills: 

1. A child's attachment to a caregiver and caregiver's loving interest and involvement with the child influence the child's sense of self & interactions with others.
2. Adults also provide models & verbal guidelines that influence children's social interest and understanding.
3. Poorly regulated & aggressive children are more likely to have parents, who use power assertive or inconsistent discipline strategies.
4. Parents should provide opportunities to children in participating in positive social interactions. 

Development of emotional & behavioural control: 

1. Children who have the warm and secure relationship with their teachers exhibit fewer behavioural problems 
2. A balance of warmth & firmness, consistent guidance that is appropriate to a child's age & understanding supports the development of the child's self-control. 
3. When a child's compliance is coerced by means of external awards, punishments or physical force, it undermines the development of her internal control. 
4. Adults can also help children develop emotional control by talking to them about feelings. Words help children label what they are feeling & discussions help them understand & cope with emotions. 5. It is also important to minimise source of frustration, over stimulation, & stress in the environment that might be more than that the children can handle. 

Development of pro-social behaviour: 

1. Providing a social context that supports children's internalisation of the rules & values in their world. 
2. A warm & responsive relationship between parents & children may be the most important promoter of prosocial behaviour. 
3. Adults should express strong feeling about rules related to behaviour that affects others so that children appreciate the rules' importance. 
4. When children are frequently told they are "helpful", "generous", "kind" they internalise these attributions & they do exhibit them in future.