Sample: Social Emotional Development Timeline

By albroek
  • Birth

    Fear: Infants react with startle reflexes when there is a loud sound or their body is not supported enough
  • Period: to

    Birth - 10 months

    Anxiety: Babies do not experience anxiety due to not being able to anticipate a future event.
  • 4 months

    Fear of adult stranger, adults they do know but have a different look (beard, hairstyle).
  • 6 months

    Fear as an emotion occurs at this age. In order for babies to be fearful,they need to understand that they can be harmed. The two fears are, fear of the unknown; new bed, sudden movement, different sounds (thunder, siren), and fear that is learned from experience or teaching; soap in eyes, doctor office, hot stoves, bad dogs.
  • Period: to

    8-10 months

    Anger: Babies begin to develop actual anger in this age period. They direct their anger towards a person or object.
  • Period: to

    10-12 months

    Anxiety: Babies begin to experience separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is something that is common in babies caused by the fear that loved ones will leave and will not return.
  • Period: to

    2 years

    Fear: toddlers fear increases at this age because they are exposed to more things; darkness, nightmares, animals, injuries, "bad people", etc.
    Anger: temper tantrums (sudden emotional outbursts of anger) happen when the toddler does not get his/her way.
    Anxiety: separation anxiety continues and nightmares begin.
  • Period: to

    3 years

    Fear: begin to develop fear of the imagined, fear of physical injury, and fear of pain. This can be caused by dental or medical work.
    Anxiety: it is experienced as a general nature
    Anger & Aggression: preschool children hit and bite less than toddlers, but they increase with threats and yelling. Anger is directed towards friends and siblings rather than adults. Aggression is expressed to get their way or to intentionally hurt another person.