Emotional self-regulation

As children engage more with people outside of their immediate family group, it’s important that they learn to manage negative emotions that may threaten their self-esteem. They learn to gauge acceptable ways to display negative emotions, for example they may ask somebody to stop doing something they don’t like rather than crying, sulking or being aggressive. By 8 to 9 years of age children begin to demonstrate concerns for other's feelings. Children who develop this awareness are rated as particularly helpful, cooperative and socially responsive by teachers and are better liked by their peers.

School-age children whose parents respond sensitively and helpfully when their child is upset tend to have children who are better emotionally regulated, display more prosocial behaviours and demonstrate more empathy. It’s important to note that those children who often display more extreme reactions to stress may then face a hostile or dismissive parental reaction. These children can feel overwhelmed by negative emotion and this can interfere with their ability to demonstrate empathy and prosocial behaviours.