EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT

Lesson 07: Socio -emotional development during early childhood period

Socialization: Process

The process by which the child learns the behaviours, beliefs and attitudes that are valued by his family and the cultural group to which he belongs and those which help him to adjust to society is known as Socialization. The child's family, particularly the parents become the primary agents of socialization. Other 'agents' include peers, teachers, and neighbors. Even mass media plays a significant role in social development of children.

Basic Principles in Social Development

1. Reinforcement: A child learns and repeats behaviours that are reinforced or rewarded and tends to give up behaviour that is punished or discouraged.
   
2. Observation and Imitation: A child learns most behaviour by observing others around him and imitating them. Parents, teachers, older children etc all serve as important role models for the child.

   That is the reason it is emphasized that the parents and teachers should set an example by being and doing what they want the child to be and to do. This imitation is not only for actions but for also imbibing attitudes and beliefs.
   

Factors for socialization: Though the child's inherited temperament is an important factor, the role of social or environmental factors are also very important. The factors determining socialization in children are:

1. The values of the social or cultural group to which the child belongs as the culture in which a child grows up prescribes both the methods and the content of socialization i.e. how he will be trained as well as what personality characteristics, motives, attitudes and values he should acquire.
   

2. The pattern of rewards and punishments in the home
3. Interaction with peers or children of same age group
4. Exposure to the environment and mass media for the standards and behaviour in the form of 'role models'