Social-Emotional

Social-Emotional Functioning refers to the social competencies related to the perception/recognition of others, social responsiveness/reciprocity, positive social interactions and communication, and positive relationships with adults and peers. It also includes the experience, expression, and management of any strong feelings (i.e., emotions), such as excitement, fear, or anger, which can be positive or negative. 

The NIH Baby Toolbox Social-Emotional Functioning includes six major domains: Social Relationships, Social Communication, Self-Regulation, Temperament, Psychological Well-Being, and Negative Affect. Measures are intended for children ages 3-42 months and include observational measures of children’s join attention, play, and prosocial behavior, as well as parent reports of children’s temperament, anger/irritability, anxiety, depressive symptoms, positive affect, frustration tolerance, flexibility, social functioning, child-caregiver interactions, and peer relationships.