3.6 Social-Emotional Development

Parallel play

A stage of play where children play alongside one another with little or no direct interaction; common in toddlers and a step toward more social play.

Pretend play

Make-believe play where children use imagination to act out roles, objects, or situations; it supports creativity and social understanding.

Temperament

A child’s biologically based style of reacting emotionally and behaviorally; it appears early and is relatively stable over time.

Separation anxiety

Distress or fear when a child is separated from a caregiver; it shows the strength of the attachment bond and is common in early childhood.

Imprinting

A rapid form of early learning in which a young animal forms a strong attachment, usually to the first moving object it sees.

Contact comfort

The comfort and sense of security infants get from physical touch and closeness, especially from a warm, soft caregiver or surrogate.