Social and Emotional Skills at 2 months

• Begins to smile at people
• Can self-calm (may suck hand or thumb)
• Tries to look at parent

Social and Emotional Skills at 4 months

• Smiles spontaneously, especially at people
• Likes to play with people and might cry when playing stops
• Copies some movements and facial expressions, like smiling or frowning

Social and Emotional Skills at 6 months

• Knows familiar faces and begins to know if someone is a stranger
• Likes to play with others, especially parents
• Responds to other people’s emotions and often seems happy
• Likes to look at self in a mirror

Social and Emotional Skills at 9 months

• May be afraid of strangers
• May be clingy with familiar adults
• Has favorite toys

Social and Emotional Skills at 12 months

• Is shy or nervous with strangers
• Cries when mom or dad leaves
• Has favorite things and people
• Shows fear in some situations
• Hands you a book when he wants to hear a story
• Repeats sounds or actions to get attention
• Puts out arm or leg to help with dressing
• Plays games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake”

Social and Emotional Skills at 18 months

• Likes to hand things to others as play
• May have temper tantrums
• May be afraid of strangers
• Shows affection to familiar people
• Plays simple pretend, such as feeding a doll
• May cling to caregivers in new situations
• Points to show others something interesting
• Explores alone but with parent close by

Social and Emotional Skills at 2 years

• Copies others, especially adults and older children
• Gets excited when with other children
• Shows more and more independence
• Shows defiant behavior (doing what he has been told not to)
• Plays mainly beside other children, but is beginning to include other children, such as in chase games

Social and Emotional Skills at 3 years

• Copies the behavior of adults and friends
• Shows affection for friends without prompting
• Takes turns in games
• Shows concern for crying friend
• Understands the idea of “mine” and “his” or “hers”
• Shows a wide range of emotions
• Separates easily from mom and dad
• May get upset with major changes in routine

Social and Emotional Skills at 4 years

• Cooperates with other children
• Enjoys doing new things
• Plays “Mom” and “Dad”
• Is more and more creative with make-believe play
• Would rather play with other children than by himself
• Cooperates with other children
• Talks about what she likes and what she is interested in

Social and Emotional Skills at 5 years

• Wants to please and be like friends
• Likes to be center of attention
• More likely to agree with rules
• Likes to sing, dance, and act
• Shows concern and sympathy for others
• Is aware of gender
• Shows more independence
• Is sometimes demanding but sometimes very cooperative