Basic information about Social Development

Social Development

Social Development

One of the significant developments during childhood is the socialization of child.  It is during the period when the child learns what it is to be a member of a group and comes to understand and conform to the expectations of the group.

When the child is born, he is mostly a physical being with physiological needs as the strongest sources of motives.  As he grows older, he becomes aware of people and pressures to conform from them.  Although signs of approval such as smiling or a kiss from the mother to the child, comes to know that a certain behavior is acceptable.  Through signs of disapproval such as frowns, or an admonition, he learns to discriminate what is not acceptable and therefore should be avoided.

To become specialized, the child needs social experiences.  The children who were isolated from contacts with people will not learn how to get along with people.  Some of the behavior patterns learned in early childhood are negatives, aggressions, teasing, bullying, rivalry, cooperation, friendliness, sympathy, dependency, etc.  In late childhood, the social behavior patterns which emerge include susceptibility to adult influence, competition, social insight, social discrimination, sex antagonism and prejudice.

The General Concepts in Social Development

1. 1.  Social Development follows a general pattern that is true to all children.
2. 2. No child is born socially, so that getting along with other is developed as the child matures.
3. 3. Social development is interrelated with other aspects of development such as emotional, physical and moral.
4. 4. The social development of the child starts as early as that time when he is able to discriminate or perceive.
5. 5.  There are many social behaviors seemingly anti-social to the adult, but are natural characteristics of the age level.
6. 6. During the gang-age stage, social consciousness develops rapidly.