Beginning of Social Behaviour - Social Behaviour During Early Childhood

Social behaviour = how a child behaves with and responds to people (adults and children). In early childhood, the child slowly learns to show love, dependence, anger, jealousy, and other social reactions.

1. Beginning of social behaviour (first months)

• By the end of the first month, a crying baby becomes quiet when picked up and looks at faces.
• In the third month, the baby likes the presence of adults and cries or becomes sad when they leave.

2. Crying and smiling as social tools (around 2 months)

• By 6 weeks–2 months, the baby uses crying to get people’s attention.
• By the end of the second month, the baby can respond to a smile with a smile.

3. Growing social interest and awareness

• The child follows people in the room with his eyes and likes it when they talk to him.
• He cries when left alone, showing social awareness and social warmth.

4. Attachment to familiar people and dislike of strangers

• The child prefers the mother or grandmother who feeds and cares for him.
• He does not like to be handled by strangers and can clearly recognise his mother.

5. Social possession and aggressive behaviour (around 2 years)

• Interest in other children grows, but the child becomes possessive about toys, books, and clothes.
• He says, “this is mine”, may not like sharing, and both love and anger reactions become strong; jealousy appears when others go near the mother or grandmother.

6. Strong dependence on a few close persons (2–4 years)

• From 2–4 years, the child depends strongly on one or two special persons, usually parents.
• These people get most of his love and affection, and he is happy both with adults and with children.

7. Imaginative play and social life (around 3 years)

• Around 3 years, the child becomes more aware of himself.
• Imaginative play grows with language and interaction and is closely linked to his social life and emotional needs.

8. Continuous social development and the role of parents

• Social development goes on throughout life.
• Lack of a warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with parents, especially the mother, can harm the development of social behaviour.

• Social behaviour starts early when the baby becomes quiet when picked up and looks at faces.
• By about 2 months, the baby cries to get attention and smiles back at people.
• The child likes familiar people, cries when left alone, and dislikes strangers.
• Around 2 years old, the child becomes possessive (“this is mine”) and may show jealousy.
• From 2–4 years, the child depends strongly on 1–2 close persons and enjoys imaginative play linked to social life.