This literature review explores young children’s social emotional development and its importance. Social emotional development is crucial to a child’s success in school and in life. Social emotional development is defined and ideas are presented on how to promote it. Social emotional skills can be promoted in early childhood classrooms everyday. This can be done in a variety of lessons and activities. Social emotional development can be promoted by embedding it in all areas of the day. In recent years, other priorities have been seen in early childhood classrooms and at home. Some researchers believe this has resulted in a lack of promotion of social emotional development in young children. This literature review will explore academic pushdown, technology and children, and limited free time, including recess. These may affect a young child’s social emotional competency, therefore they may exhibit more challenging behaviors. Three social emotional development programs are explored. Social emotional development is so vital in the early years of a child’s life. Families and teachers need to understand its importance
