Resource Lists 

Supporting Children’s Social Development: Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

Mother and child on the couch

This list contains a variety of resources associated with strategies for parents and caregivers for supporting a child’s social development.

IEL Resources

Web Resources

  • Making Friends and Getting Along with Peers
    Source: The National Academies Press

    This chapter from the book From Neurons to Neighborhoods discusses how establishing relationships with peers is a major developmental task that is not always easy for children.

  • Promoting Positive Peer Social Interactions
    Source: The Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning

    This brief discusses the importance of successful social interactions to promote positive social and emotional development in children.

  • Promoting Young Children’s Social and Emotional Health
    Source: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

    This resource describes why social and emotional health matters, shows how to build trusting relationships and teach social/emotional skills to young children.

  • Social Development in 3-5 Year Olds
    Source: Scholastic

    Preschoolers are learning sophisticated ways to relate to others. This article provides information on social development, including empathy, imagination, and more.

  • Supporting Social-Emotional Development
    Source: Teaching Strategies

    This webinar series, featuring short instructional videos, addresses positive relationships, modeling empathy, and the importance of social-emotional and cognitive development.

About this resource

Setting(s) for which the article is intended:
  • Child Care Center
  • Family Child Care
  • Home
  • Preschool Program

Intended audience(s):
  • Parents / Family
  • Teachers / Service providers

Age Levels (the age of the children to whom the article applies):
  • Preschoolers (Age 3 Through Age 5)

Related Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards:
Reviewed: 2021