Supporting Emotional Development

In John Bradshaw’s iconic book, Healing the Shame that Binds You, he writes about the importance of supporting children’s emotional development: “Since the earliest period of our life was preverbal, everything depended on emotional interaction. Without someone to reflect our emotions, we had no way of knowing who we were.”

Kay Albrecht, Jennifer Fiechtner, and Margaret Banks, in an article that forms the basis of one of the newest Exchange Reflections, “Supporting Emotional Development,” describe examples of things teachers do to support children’s emotional and social development. An effective teacher:

• “Invests time and energy in building relationships
• Responds promptly to children’s distress
• Treats each child individually; gives each child what she needs to build a strong relationship with her teacher and peers
• Understands that warm, reciprocal, and caring interactions are required for relationships to grow and deepen
• Is willing to share control with children in emotionally and developmentally appropriate ways. Doesn’t have to always direct children or be in charge of what they do
• Focuses on children’s strengths and feelings in interactions with them”

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