California Preschool Learning Foundations - ECEZero2Three ...

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
16
1.0 Attachments to Parents
Relationships
At around 48 months of age At around 60 months of age
1.1 Seek security and support from their
primary family attachment figures.
Children use their family caregivers (e.g.,
mother, father, grandparent, other adult raising
the child) as sources of security and support,
especially in challenging circumstances,
by obtaining comfort, requesting help, and
communicating about feelings.
Examples Examples
• Plays comfortably on the other side of the room
or the yard while the parent talks to the teacher,
but cries to the parent to be consoled if hurt or
frustrated and readily calms when comforted.
• Asks for the parent’s help with a task (e.g., putting
on shoes) and may cooperate with the parent’s
assistance.
• Responds positively to the parent’s arrival after
an absence.
• Runs over to his parent to tell about having
bumped his head and asks for a hug.
1.2 Contribute to maintaining positive
relationships with their primary family
attachment figures.
Children prefer interacting with their family
caregivers, choosing them for sharing
activities, providing assistance, and displaying
discoveries or achievements.
Examples Examples
• Asks the parent to watch something the child has
learned to do.
• Prefers the parent’s company or assistance to
that of other adults who may be equally available.
• Responds positively when the mother initiates a
conversation about a shared experience, although
will not contribute much to the conversation at
this age.
1.1 Take greater initiative in seeking
support from their primary family
attachment figures.
Children seek the support of their family
caregivers, especially in difficult situations,
by requesting help in resolving conflicts with
others, initiating cooperative problem solving,
or seeking comfort when distressed.
• Seeks the parent’s help in a conflict with a sibling.
• With assistance from the parent, describes her
feelings about a recent upsetting experience.
• Seeks the parent’s help with a difficult task
(e.g., zipping a coat, folding a note) and
cooperates readily.
1.2 Contribute to positive mutual
cooperation with their primary
family attachment figures.
Children demonstrate an awareness of the
mutuality of close relationships in their efforts
to be helpful, showing interest in the family
caregiver’s feelings, preferences, or well-being
and sharing activities.
• Wants to make a birthday card for the parent
while at school.
• Wants to help the parent care for a baby sibling
or a pet or work together with the parent on a
task at home (as reported by the parent).
• Communicates feelings to the mother, sometimes
taking the initiative in doing so.
Preschool Learning Foundations, Volume 1 • California Department of Education