What role do parents play in fostering a child’s emotional and social development?

A parent’s contribution is very important in a child’s social and emotional development because they work as a primary socialization agent and first means of interaction. According to Social Learning Theory, children learn behaviors and attitudes by observing or/and imitating their parents (Bandura & Walters, 1977). So, parents can also help in enhancing the social/emotional growth of their children.

Moreover, Various parenting styles influence a child’s cognitive development. Baumrind (1966) noted that children whose parents were classed as authoritative performed better on tests of cognitive functioning than the counter parenting styles. These findings provided that authoritative parenting promotes better cognition, confidence, self-resilience, emotional understanding and skill development.

Also, according to John Bowlby’s attachment theory (1969), emotional bond between parents and children affect later social development. Secure attachment occurs when parents are sensitive and responsive their children’s needs. However, Insecure attachment may occur when parents are unresponsive or insensitive. A secure attachment style helps maintain healthy social relationship in a child’s life because it leads to trust, cooperation, and good emotion regulation (Ainsworth et al 1978).

Finally, One must consider that Emotional intelligence can be improved through communication between parent and child. Parents who have open conversations with their children about feelings and emotions can help them to have better understanding and expression of their emotional selves. Besides that, parents who validate rather than dismissing or punishing their children’s negative emotions would let the children know how to cope with their own negative emotions adaptively, which is important in developing prosocial behavior and regulating emotions throughout life. Thus, it is important that parents are aware to be a good model for their children’s learning in order to develop healthy social development.