Domain: NC Foundations for Early Learning: Emotional and Social Development (ESD)

Subdomain: Learning About Feelings

Goal: Children identify, manage, and express their feelings.

Skill Progression: Emotional expression

Age: 54-60 Months

Click here to go to all skills for ages 54-60 Months.

Watch the child during daily routines and play activities with other children.

If the trait is not observed, the adult can ask the child questions. For example, “Have you ever had your feelings hurt?” “What happened?” “What other kinds of things hurt your feelings?” “How often do you have hurt feelings?” If the child cannot produce them, the adult can give examples, and say, “Would it hurt your feelings if….?” “Has that ever happened?”

The child provides instances that demonstrate how feelings were hurt.

Help early childhood educators and parents understand that this is a period when feelings get hurt for almost no reason. When things don’t go right, the child assumes someone was intentionally trying to thwart his efforts. The adults need to help sort out the actions and consequent feelings and determine what was or was not intentional. Problem solving skills are needed.