Early social-emotional development and emotional regulation

Social-emotional development and emotional regulation during early childhood are key achievements that occur in a relational context, and which contribute to secure attachment, social adaptation, academic accomplishment, and later mental health. This article reviews the available evidence to describe and analyze the way in which children???s socio-emotional development and the achievement of emotional regulation occur, and the elements that favor and interfere with the acquisition of these skills, in the context of family care. It reviews early bonding and attachment as the basis for the achievement of these skills, distinguishing dyadic and triadic contexts, as well as protective and risk interactions for children???s socio-emotional development. It also presents the main milestones in socio-emotional development and early affective regulation and deliberates over the clinical relevance of an early evaluation of these dimensions.