Figure 5.12. Personal and social development

Source: @google Personal, social and emotional development is possibly the most important of the prime areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage for the under-threes. This is the age at which children learn the skills they need to become actively involved in the world around them.

Personal development is about how children come to understand who they are and what they can do. Social development covers how children come to understand themselves in relation to others, how they make friends, understand the rules of society and behave towards others.

Emotional development concerns how children understand their own and others’ feelings and develop their ability to be empathetic – to see things from another person’s point of view.

In personal, social and emotional development includes three aspects of children’s learning and development:

i. Making relationships