Emotional Development in Early Childhood: Definition, Stages, and Tips

Emotional development in early childhood is a complex process that continues throughout a child’s adolescence. In the early stages, children are just beginning to discover words to describe their emotions and recognize how others might be feeling.

In this article, we’ll discuss what emotional development in children entails, its significance, and its progression throughout the years.

What is Emotional Development?

Emotional development is the process of experiencing, expressing, and understanding emotions from birth to adulthood. It involves recognizing one’s own feelings and those of others.

It’s a lifelong process that develops in tandem with changes in neural, cognitive, and behavioral functions. Social and cultural factors, such as history and values, can significantly influence a person’s emotional development.

The Importance of Emotional Development in Early Childhood

Positive emotional development in early childhood lays the foundation for a happy and healthy individual. It builds foundational skills for managing stress and adapting to new situations. In turn, children become more emotionally resilient and are better equipped to recover from setbacks.

Developing emotional intelligence also makes children more empathetic, which makes them better, more understanding friends. When children have strong social support, they’re more likely to feel confident in their interactions and abilities.

Stages of Emotional Development in Children

There are three critical stages in a child’s early emotional development. Let’s take a closer look at what happens in each stage.

Infancy Stage (0-1 year)

During infancy, babies form attachments to their parents or caregivers. They have basic trust and security, and by 6 to 9 months, they can recognize familiar adults [*].

While infants can’t verbalize their emotions, they can show them. For example, they might cry when they’re upset and giggle when they're joyful. They also begin to show early signs of emotional contagion, such as fussing when they hear another baby cry.

They rely primarily on their caregivers for comfort, though they learn to self-soothe by sucking their thumbs or hugging soft toys.

Toddlerhood (1-3 years)

In the first three years of their lives, toddlers start testing limits by saying “no.” They demonstrate more intense feelings when their wants and needs are challenged. For instance, they might scream and cry if they don’t get what they want.

Simultaneously, they start developing empathy. If they see a peer or adult crying, they might approach to offer a hug.

While toddlers are better at self-regulating than infants, they still need a secure baseline. At this age, contact comfort is foundational. They might be more confident when exploring their environment, but still seek their parents’ constant presence.

Preschool (3-5 years)

During the preschool years, children begin to develop strong, reliable friendships, particularly as they engage in cooperative play. They’ll start to negotiate conflicts and share their toys more willingly (and without being told).

They can use words to express when they’re upset or need something, and can follow routines much better than toddlers. At this stage, they also start becoming more independent and can perform simple tasks, such as brushing their teeth or putting their toys away.

Factors That Influence Emotional Development in Children

A child's emotional development depends on several factors, including the environment in which they’re raised, genetics, and the people with whom they interact. Below, we’ll explain each factor.

Biological factors

Children are born with innate emotional styles. Some are naturally easygoing, whereas others can be more sensitive or fierce.

Recognizing a child’s emotional nature can help parents respond more effectively to their child's needs. For example, a sensitive baby may react to gentler parenting and a bit of extra patience, whereas an adventurous baby with lots of energy might need more playtime.

A child’s physical health also impacts mood and emotional development [*]. Children with good nutrition and regular sleep tend to have steadier emotions, while those who are constantly hungry or ill are more irritable.

Family and parenting

Secure attachments and consistent care provide children with a sense of safety, helping to build their foundational trust and confidence.

Suppose a child falls over and gets a bump on their knee. A parent who rushes over immediately and offers comfort will make the child feel safe to keep exploring. Children with these secure attachments tend to be more confident in themselves and better able to handle stress.

Environmental and social factors

In addition to parents and caregivers, children develop their emotional skills by interacting with peers at school and in playgroups. These experiences help them learn to share and understand each other’s feelings.

A child’s physical and cultural environment also influences their emotional development, with a safe home and neighborhood helping children feel more secure and able [*]. Structured routines and positive experiences support emotional health more than you might anticipate.

How to Support Healthy Emotional Development at Home

Emotional development starts at home through a secure environment and responsive caregiving. Here are a few ways you can help your child become more emotionally aware.

Model healthy emotional behavior

Children learn by example, and the first place they pick up new habits is from their parents. Every calm and honest reaction a parent makes becomes a lesson for their child.

Suppose you spill something when cooking a meal. Model your response by sharing your thought process out loud. For example, you might say, “I spilled some of the ingredients. I’m a bit upset at myself, but it’s okay. I’ll clean it up and be more careful next time.” This shows children that it’s okay to have intense emotions, but that there are healthy ways to cope using the right skills.

Encourage open communication about feelings

Make your home a safe space where you can open up and talk about your feelings, and be honest with your child. You can structure the sharing of emotions by establishing a consistent bedtime routine.

For instance, you might “debrief” the day by asking your child about the best part of their day or whether anything made them sad or mad.

As your child shares their thoughts and experiences, listen actively. Give them your full attention and make eye contact. Nod and repeat their words so they feel heard, and ask questions that encourage them to open up more.

Teach healthy coping skills

Children will often encounter intense emotions before they have developed the skills to manage them effectively. Thus, building their coping skills can equip them to manage stress and other intense emotions.

Start simple by showing your child how to calm down using deep breaths. Make it fun and easy to follow using visual aids like our heart breathing poster.

You can also use pretend play to create scenarios that help a child learn to manage their emotions. Use familiar toys, such as dolls or stuffed animals, to role-play scenarios like comforting a friend or resolving an argument.

Consider additional support when needed

Sometimes, a child’s emotional difficulties go beyond everyday struggles. If your child isn’t improving or you notice something seriously wrong, it may be time to consider additional support.

Before reaching out to your pediatrician, prepare to explain your child’s behavior. Monitor the intensity of their meltdowns and the duration of their episodes. For example, while the occasional meltdown isn’t anything out of the ordinary, frequent or intense meltdowns are a red flag.

When you take these concerns to a doctor, they may recommend a screening for potential delays and refer you to a specialist.

Signs of Delayed Emotional Development in Children

As children grow older, they reach emotional milestones, such as interacting socially when they’re two and showing concern for others when they’re three or four [*]. If you notice an absence of this behavior in your child, they may be experiencing delayed emotional development.

Other signs your child’s emotional development may be stunted include the following:

• Extreme anxiety or aggression, wherein your child is constantly fearful and experiences daily bouts of kicking and hitting
• Absence of pretend or make-believe play as a result of poor socio-emotional understanding
• A lack of interest in games and routines, alongside constant refusal to engage in social activities
• Limited emotional vocabulary and extreme difficulties expressing themselves

If you notice your child’s overall behaviors are markedly different from those of their peers, discuss this with their pediatrician.

The Bottom Line

Creating a safe and open space to discuss your child’s feelings, modeling healthy behaviors, and teaching coping skills for challenging situations lays a reliable foundation for your child’s emotional health.

Explore our feelings worksheets to teach your child early lessons like self-soothing. As they grow older, learning to manage their feelings will benefit them in the long run.

Sources

1. Malik F, Marwaha R. “Developmental Stages of Social Emotional Development in Children.” Nih.gov, 2022.
2. Montagna A, Chiara Nosarti. “Socio-Emotional Development Following Very Preterm Birth: Pathways to Psychopathology.” Frontiers in Psychology, 2016.
3. Capobianco N, Bush C, & Best D. “Emotional Development: Cultural Influences on Young Children’s Emotional Competence.” Children’s Social Worlds in Cultural Context, 2019.
4. CDC. “Milestones by 3 Years. Learn the Signs. Act Early.” 2025.