Emotional and Cognitive Development Linked

01/23/2008

Emotional and Cognitive Development Linked

The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.Harry S.
Firestone

The social and emotional development of children is inextricably linked with their cognitive development, observes Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. As reported in Preschool Matters (November 2007; www.nieer.org), Shonkoff says...

"Emotional well-being and social competence provide a strong foundation for emerging cognitive abilities. Together they are the 'bricks and mortar' of the foundation of human development. So concerns about behavior should be viewed as one part in the larger story of how children develop. The brain is a highly integrated organ. Social development and regulation of behavior are as much a part of development as cognitive learning.

"Let's face it, little kids aren't famous for being able to stand still, share with others, or pay attention. Challenging behaviors occur in normal children with good parents just as they do in children from disadvantaged backgrounds.... Preschool teachers should know as much about social and emotional development as teaching literacy. We in the early childhood community haven't done a good job of developing that."

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