Social Emotional Development Milestones: What to Expect Ages 2-6

Two young children sitting together and playing with colorful toys

Key takeaway Emotional awareness is internal (recognizing feelings), while social-emotional skills are action-oriented (using emotions to navigate relationships). Social-emotional skills include five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and decision-making. Two-year-olds may express big feelings through tantrums; parents can help by naming feelings, offering comfort during meltdowns, and using books to discuss emotions.…

Read Full Post

How to Teach Emotional Awareness to Children

A mother and young daughter lie on a white bed, facing each other in an intimate conversation

Key takeaway Why does emotional awareness matter? It’s key for brain development, social skills, and how children learn to handle life’s challenges. Children with emotional awareness and emotional intelligence build better relationships, achieve more academically, and enjoy better physical and mental health. Even before speaking, infants show emotion by communicating through crying and facial expressions,…

Read Full Post

What to Do When Parents Disagree on Parenting

A smiling couple sits on a couch with their young child. The mother is holding the child while the father looks on attentively.

Key takeaways Parents may argue about parenting due to different childhood experiences, stress, and clashing parenting philosophies. The most common parenting disagreements are screen time, bedtime routines, food choices, homework expectations, discipline approaches, and conflicting parenting styles. Parenting arguments get stuck because of the “Four Horsemen” communication patterns: criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling make resolution…

Read Full Post