Social and Emotional Skills
Dr. Marc-André Pinard, Psy.D., Psychologist, CISSS de la Côte-Nord
Advice and tips Ages 0-6
Emotional needs
The quality of your relationship with your child is directly related to healthy development. From birth, this relationship is the basis for bonding with everyone encountered in life. It will help him develop the ability to express and manage emotions.
Advice and tips
Ensure a secure environment by establishing a routine for bedtime, brushing teeth, meals, and preparing for school. Ensure that this always occurs in the same manner.
Talk to your child about emotions; read him books that make it easier to learn words and images for emotions.
Teach how to express, recognize and name emotions.
Comfort him when you feel he is upset.
Advice and tips Ages 6-12
Emotional needs
Your child needs to know that you love him, with his strengths and weaknesses, his successes and failures. It is also important to provide support that helps him feel safe.
The development of good self-esteem in your child affects all aspects of life: learning, relationships, health, career and satisfaction with life.
Advice and tips
Be realistic in your expectations: offer challenges that lead to successes. This makes him aware of his strengths.
Celebrate his successes and congratulate him.
Allow him to make mistakes and offer support when he experiences failure. Failures are just as important as successes.
Clarify important rules and give appropriate consequences. Be clear in your choice of rules and above all, be consistent. Stay on course!
Advice and tips Ages 12-17
Emotional needs
Adolescence is a period when a teen is in search of personal identity. He begins to question who he is, how he differs from others, what he wants to do in life and who he wants to be with.
A teen’s self-esteem gives him confidence to approach others, express his needs and attempt to take his place in a group.
Although you are an important reference and role model, he will be less dependent on you and will seek privacy.
Advice and tips
Encourage him to be assertive and to give his opinions and ideas on topics.
Listen, show respect and share your knowledge with him.
Use everyday opportunities so he can see other people’s points of view, share his opinions and hear other opinions. This will help him accept and understand differences so he can assert himself.
Encourage him to talk, but respect his limits and privacy.
Allow him the freedom to accept or reject your advice.
For more information
Social needs
The family is your child’s first place for socialization. He learns to take turns, to share, to make contact with others and to take his own place while respecting others.
Advice and tips
Provide opportunities for interaction with other children: play in a park or indoor facility
Teach how to connect with others like saying «Hello», introducing himself, asking to play, etc.
Set organized play times that reinforce the ability to follow basic rules
Organize periods of free play to stimulate creativity