SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 4 – 6 YEAR OLDS

GENERAL SOCIAL PATTERNS 4 year old 4 year old –Form friendships w/friends –More time in cooperative play –Play best in groups of 3 or 4 –Share toys and take turns –Still bossy and inconsiderate; may fight –Family still important –Often search for approval

GENERAL SOCIAL PATTERNS Five Year Old Five Year Old –More outgoing and talkative –Play best in groups of 5 or 6 –Play is more complicated –When fighting; resort to name-calling and wild threats –More respect for others’ belongings –Social acceptance is important to them

5 year old, cont. –Concerned about what friends say/do –Don’t like to be different –Fear ridicule –Teasing may be very harmful –Gossip begins –Talk may be very personal and critical

GENERAL SOCIAL PATTERNS Six Year Old Six Year Old –Relations may be filled with: Friction Friction Aggression Aggression Threats Threats Stubbornness Stubbornness

6 year old, cont. –They want everything –Want their way –May not share toys –Jealous of others’ toys –Best friends usually same sex –More long-lasting relationships –Group play & organized sports common –Team effort not formed yet – may tire of game

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS Four Year Old Four Year Old –Strong sense of family –Want to feel important in family –Proud to perform household tasks –Fight w/siblings

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS Five Year Old Five Year Old –Similar to 4’s –Proud of parents –Willing to help out –Play much better w/siblings –Protective, kind and dependable w/younger siblings

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS Six Year Old Six Year Old –Less harmony with family members –More self-centered –Opinions come first –Arguing w/adults more common –Rough and impatient w/younger siblings –Fight w/older siblings

MORAL DEVELOPMENT The process of learning, over time, personal belief’s of right and wrong.

Parents should….. Guide positive behavior Guide positive behavior Give age appropriate rules Give age appropriate rules Give appropriate consequences when rules are violated Give appropriate consequences when rules are violated Be consistent Be consistent

Moral Development forms…. By age five and seven, By age five and seven, –Gradually develop the beginning of conscience –Inner sense of right and wrong –Feelings of guilt –Behavior choices/consequences Early childhood rules impact the formation of conscience in early school years!

LYING The difference between truth and lies is difficult to grasp and not always accurate in younger children. The difference between truth and lies is difficult to grasp and not always accurate in younger children. They may exaggerate details of a story they tell. They may exaggerate details of a story they tell. As they develop morally, they begin to separate fact from fiction. As they develop morally, they begin to separate fact from fiction.

LYING, CONT. They start to understand that telling the truth assists others in making decisions. They start to understand that telling the truth assists others in making decisions. They will lie based on consequences that they may have to face. They will lie based on consequences that they may have to face. They begin to learn right from wrong and avoid direct confrontations. They begin to learn right from wrong and avoid direct confrontations. When approached in non-threatening way, they are more likely to tell the truth, developing a pattern of truthfulness. When approached in non-threatening way, they are more likely to tell the truth, developing a pattern of truthfulness.

GUIDELINES FOR MORAL DEVELOPMENT Consider child’s age/abilities Consider child’s age/abilities Set a good example Set a good example Learning self-discipline is lifelong task Learning self-discipline is lifelong task Talk privately about mistakes Talk privately about mistakes Continue to show love despite misbehavior Continue to show love despite misbehavior

HANDLING OUTSIDE INFLUENCES Peer influences Peer influences –Words –Speech patterns –Toys choices –Clothing choices Parental rules and communication to set boundaries.

HANDLING OUTSIDE INFLUENCES Television Television –Values –Unpleasant images –Behaviors –Language –Fantasy scenarios –Violence Parental limitations necessary based on content. Parents need to make themselves aware!

HANDLING OUTSIDE INFLUENCES Video/computer games Video/computer games –Violence –Unrealistic behaviors –Language Parental awareness of age appropriateness for child and enforce time limitations.