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1st grade social awareness skills: Find out what you need to know

Here's what to know about your first-grader's social awareness.

Social awareness is the ability to take the perspectives of others and apply it to your interactions with them. Daily interactions with peers and teachers can help build your child’s social awareness, but you play the greatest role in their social development.

Brunette boy in orange shirt holding laptop in classroom

During these early elementary years, when children are in a formal school setting, they’re interacting with more peers and adults. This increased exposure to others begins to broaden their understanding of the world. Children at this age are developing the ability to identify their feelings and what causes them. They are also learning how to manage their emotions and behave appropriately. You can help your child develop her social and emotional skills. The concepts highlighted in this section are based on the five sets of competencies developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

Kids who are friends hugging outside while smiling

During the early elementary years, children are learning how to communicate their needs and emotions verbally, and how to identify what others are feeling based on their facial expressions and body language.

Elementary school girls whisper secrets in class

As children gain a better sense of other people’s perspectives and behaviors and start to understand that feelings play a major role in the nature of relationships, they are developing social awareness.

Sibling wrap arms around each other with windmill in hand

During the early part of this phase, your child is expanding their social circle and they are beginning to realize how their feelings and behaviors affect others. they are also discovering that others have different points of view and that these differences may affect their interactions.

Young girl hugs stuffed animal outside

Keep in mind that every child has different levels of social awareness, as this can be a product of both their nature and the interactions they have had since infancy. Some children may display a low level of social awareness, when in fact they are shy or introverted. Children’s literature can be a good way to level the playing field, as it contains relevant examples that can help your child understand their behavior and the behavior of others, which your child will need to do in order to successfully engage in their relationships.

Siblings in red and green shirts look at phone together outside

At this early age, children are learning how to interact with others and how to recognize their feelings and needs, although they may not yet know how to apply empathy to all of their interactions. For instance, your child may not fully understand why a classmate gets upset when she takes a pencil away without asking for it. As your child grows and becomes more socially aware, he or she should be able to better identify how their actions make others feel.

Happy girl in classroom raising hand

Keep in mind every child develops at his or her own pace. If you have concerns about your child’s development, please contact your healthcare provider or your child’s teacher or school counselor.

Learn more about how to support your child with our first-grade social awareness tips page.

Parent Toolkit resources were developed by NBC News Learn with the help of subject-matter experts, including Maurice Elias, Director, Rutgers Social-Emotional and Character Development Lab, and Jennifer Miller, Author, Confident Parents, Confident Kids.