A Parent's Guide to ... Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) 'involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities', according to the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (see box).

Put simply PSED is about three things that can help a child to develop into a balanced, healthy individual who is confident, caring and respected by others. These are:

Children who develop well in these three areas have been found to cope better with life's challenges. They are the sort of children who don't give up when the going gets tough and who bounce back in the face of adversity. Focusing on helping your child to develop these skills will give them a greater chance of enjoying their time in pre-school and school and of developing success and happiness in the future. And while temperament is to a moderate degree inherited, PSED is probably the area that parents can influence most, not just when their child is a baby but right through adolescence and into adulthood.