During the first few years of life, it is essential that children learn that they can trust their caregivers. By being responsive and consistent, parents help children learn that they can depend on the people they are close to.
A large part of this also involves providing consistent rules and discipline as the child grows. If a child knows what is expected of him and what will happen when the rules are broken, he will learn that the world is in order, and so will his mind. Doing this also helps children develop a greater sense of self-control.
To develop social and emotional skills, parents must give their children the opportunity to play with others, explore their own abilities, and express their feelings. While maintaining limits, it is always a good idea to offer children options so that they can begin to assert their own preferences: "Do you want peas or corn for dinner?" or "Do you want to wear the red shirt or the green shirt?" are examples of questions parents should ask to help children make their own decisions.
In social situations, help your child learn to express his emotions appropriately. When emotions are strong, such as anger or jealousy, understand your child and. Let them talk about how they feel without acting inappropriately. When inappropriate emotional responses occur, such as hitting or yelling, make it clear that the actions are not acceptable, but always offers an alternative response to understand and channel these intense emotions.
You will have to be a role model that you hope to see in your child. Remember that your actions will be much more powerful than the words you speak. Remember also that your child needs to understand emotions and for this, you should take every opportunity to name the emotions.