California Preschool Learning Foundations - ECEZero2Three ...

4.0 Empathy and Caring
At around 48 months of age At around 60 months of age
4.1 Demonstrate concern for the needs
of others and people in distress.
Children respond with concern when a child
or adult is distressed, strive to understand why,
and may display simple efforts to assist the
other person.
Examples Examples
• Asks a teacher, “Why is Jessie crying?” and/or
asks the teacher to help.
• Watches another child crying loudly and makes
a sad face.
• Communicates about an infant nearby, “Jacob’s
scared of that loud noise.”
• Gets a toy for a distressed peer and may
communicate, “Do you feel better?”
• Brings a carrot to school for the class guinea pig.
California Department of Education • Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1
4.1 Respond to another’s distress and
needs with sympathetic caring
and are more likely to assist.
Children respond sympathetically to a distressed
person and are more competent at
responding helpfully.
Self | 9
• Asks a younger child, “Why are you crying?” and
when told that she misses her mommy, communicates,
“Don’t worry—your mommy will come
back soon.”
• May communicate, “That’s not fair!” in response
to another child being excluded from the group.
• Helps a friend rebuild a fallen block tower.
• Offers a friend her favorite book when she looks
or acts sad.
• May come to the defense of a friend who is
teased by a peer.
• Asks a teacher for bandages after a peer has
fallen and scraped his knee.
• Asks, “Want some water?” of a friend who is
coughing.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT