Emotions play a crucial role in life, contributing to the ‘personal and social adjustment of the individual’. Emotional development refers to a child’s growing ability. It controls emotions and forms secure relationships. In this article, we will discuss in detail, “Emotional Development in Children“. It has the following effects on the developing individual.

Emotions give energy to face a particular situation in life.

· Emotions create and maintain our interest in work.

· Emotions work as a motivator of our behavior.

· Emotions add pleasure and happiness to our everyday experiences in life.

· Emotions influence our adjustment in society.

· Emotions serve as a media of communication between individuals and guide the individual to modify to conform to the social standard.

· Highly emotional conditions disturb our mental equilibrium, and reasoning & thinking are disrupted.

Emotional Development in Children

Emotional deprivation leads to personality maladjustment. At the time of birth, a child does not show any specific emotions except general excitement in the form of crying or smiling. It is said that a child begins his journey to develop emotional behavior. With the help of two distinct emotions. I:e; emotion of distress(displeasure) and emotion of delight(pleasure).

When an infant completes his six months, negative emotions(like fear, disgust, anger, jealousy, etc.) take the lead, and then positive emotions (like love, sympathy, enjoyment, etc.) creep in. Generally, up to two years, almost all emotions, positive and negative take their shape and become quite distinct in children. Emotions are so important in their life. Without emotions, life becomes meaningless. Following are the emotional changes during this period.

By the end of late childhood, the child learns to control his emotional expression in social situations. Even in the absence of concrete objects, children express their emotions. It is more contagious during childhood. Because children are more dependable on others.

In early childhood, children fear animals and high places. Anger is caused by failure, teasing, making unfavorable comparisons with other children, interruption of activities in progress, ridicule by peers on elders’ negligence, etc. Parental favoritism causes jealousy in childhood.

Girls are more jealous than boys in their classes because of preferential treatment given to boys. Emotions such as Joy, pleasure, love, curiosity, grief & affection appear in childhood.