What is Affective Development in Early Years?

Affective development is the process by which young children grow and learn to understand their own emotions, feelings, attitudes, and values. This area of development goes beyond thinking and learning facts (which is called cognitive development); it covers how children feel about themselves, others, and their world.

Children’s affective development influences their self-confidence, sense of belonging, relationships, social skills, and ability to cope with life’s challenges. In the early years, this type of development lays the foundations for emotional wellbeing and mental health throughout life.

The Foundations of Affective Development

Affective development starts from birth. Babies express their emotions through crying, smiling, and other facial expressions. As children grow, they begin to understand both their own feelings and the feelings of other people. The family environment, early relationships, and day-to-day interactions all play big roles in shaping a child’s emotional world.

Children learn about:

• Love and trust
• Emotional security
• Self-awareness
• Awareness of others
• Building relationships

These aspects help children feel safe, respected, and valued. When children feel emotionally secure, they are more likely to take risks in their learning and try new things.

Emotional Security in Early Years

Emotional security means feeling safe, loved, and protected. In the early years setting, this is shown through warm, caring relationships with practitioners and other adults. Babies and young children look to adults for comfort when they are upset or unsure. When their needs are met kindly and promptly, they learn that the world is a safe place.

A consistent daily routine also helps children to feel secure. When they know what to expect, children are less anxious. Secure attachments—strong bonds with parents or carers—form the base for building confidence and self-esteem.

Understanding and Managing Emotions

A big part of affective development is learning to recognise and talk about emotions. Young children need adult support to name and manage their feelings.

Children may feel:

• Happy, sad, angry, afraid, excited, frustrated, jealous, or proud

Recognising these emotions is the first step to expressing and handling them. Adults can help by talking to children about feelings, using simple words and answering questions. For example, if a child is upset, a practitioner might say, “It looks like you’re feeling sad. Would you like a hug?” This helps the child to connect words with feelings.

Managing emotions means finding safe and acceptable ways to work through strong feelings. Children learn self-control over time. Techniques such as taking deep breaths, counting, or talking to someone can be introduced in early years settings.

Building Self-Esteem and Confidence

Self-esteem is how a child feels about themselves. It affects everything from making friends to trying new things. Confident children are usually willing to explore and experiment.

Positive relationships and encouragement support self-esteem. When a child feels listened to, praised for their efforts, and included, they build a healthy sense of self-worth.

Simple ways to encourage self-esteem include:

• Giving lots of praise for small achievements
• Allowing children to try things themselves
• Listening to their ideas and questions
• Valuing their opinions

Mistakes and setbacks can dent confidence. It helps when adults are accepting and supportive, showing children that it is alright to ‘have a go’ and that learning takes practise.

Developing Empathy and Respect

Empathy means understanding how others feel. It is not something babies are born with, but rather a skill that grows with experience. During the early years, children watch adults for clues on how to treat other people.

Reading stories, talking about feelings, and sharing help children learn empathy. Practitioners can ask questions such as, “How do you think your friend feels when you shout at them?” Over time, children begin to recognise emotions in others, show kindness, and offer comfort.

Respect for others comes from understanding that everyone has feelings, ideas, and needs. This is important when making friends and joining in group activities.

Building Relationships and Social Skills

Relationships with adults give children models for how to behave with others. Positive, trusting relationships help children feel accepted and understood. These early experiences help shape social skills that last a lifetime.

Key social skills developed in the early years include:

• Sharing and taking turns
• Listening to others
• Using manners
• Cooperating in play
• Saying sorry and forgiving others
• Communicating needs and wishes

Social skills grow through play, group activities, and observing adults. Sometimes children need help to sort out disputes or learn what is polite. Adults guide children, demonstrating and practising together.

Values, Attitudes, and Morality

Values are the beliefs and rules about what is right and wrong. In the early years, children learn values through example, stories, daily routines, and consistent boundaries.

Simple rules—like waiting your turn, being gentle with others, tidying up after play—introduce the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. Practitioners reinforce positive attitudes, such as fairness, sharing, and helping others, through praise and clear expectations.

Morality—knowing right from wrong—develops as children grow. At first, young children follow rules to please adults. Over time, they learn to understand reasons for rules and start to make their own moral choices.

The Role of Adults in Affective Development

Adults play a huge role in children’s affective development. The way adults respond to children’s needs, feelings, and questions shapes how children feel about themselves and others. Adults who respond sensitively, offer comfort, and set gentle boundaries support healthy emotional growth.

Practitioners use:

• Warm greetings each day
• Cuddles, smiles, and eye contact
• Listening attentively to children’s stories
• Acknowledging all feelings, both pleasant and unpleasant
• Setting boundaries in a calm manner

Children look up to adults for cues on how to behave, how to express emotions, and how to solve problems. When adults respond with empathy, respect, and understanding, children learn to treat others in the same way.

The Role of Play in Affective Development

Play is central to emotional growth in early years. Through play, children explore their feelings, try out roles, and practise social interactions.

Different kinds of play support affective development:

• Imaginative play: Children pretend to be grown-ups, animals, or superheroes and act out stories, which helps them process experiences.
• Group games: Provide a chance to learn about rules, taking turns, and working as part of a team.
• Sensory play: Activities like sand or water play can be calming and help children learn to manage emotions.

Adults who play alongside children help build relationships and trust. They can support children in finding words for their feelings and encourage positive behaviour during play.

Recognising and Supporting Individual Differences

Every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Some children are naturally sociable and confident, while others may be quieter or take longer to warm up to new situations. Children from different backgrounds, languages, or with special educational needs may express feelings in their own ways.

Practitioners watch closely and take time to get to know each child. Some children need more support to feel secure or join in. Flexibility and understanding help all children feel included and valued.

Sometimes, behaviour can signal that a child is struggling emotionally. Changes in mood, withdrawing from others, or acting out can all be signs that a child needs extra support. Regular communication with families helps adults understand each child better.

Cultural and Family Influences

A child’s culture and family background shape how they express and manage feelings. Some cultures encourage talking openly about emotions; others are more reserved. Practitioners respect these differences and work with families to support children’s development in a way that fits with their home life.

Sharing traditions, songs, and stories from home helps children feel proud of their backgrounds and builds self-esteem. This approach supports a sense of identity and belonging.

The Impact of Affective Development on Learning

Affective development is closely linked to learning. Children who are content, secure, and confident are more likely to try new tasks, ask questions, and interact with their peers. They are resilient in the face of challenges and can recover from setbacks more quickly.

Children who struggle emotionally may find it hard to settle, listen, or join in. Emotional difficulties can affect concentration, memory, and motivation. Practitioners work to create a loving, supportive environment where learning feels safe and enjoyable.

Supporting Affective Development in Early Years Settings

Practitioners use daily routines, language, and activities to support children’s feelings and relationships. Some effective strategies include:

• Greeting each child by name
• Giving children choices
• Teaching and modelling emotion words
• Reading stories about feelings and relationships
• Using puppets or games to talk about emotions
• Creating cosy spaces where children can calm down
• Encouraging friendship and teamwork

Sometimes children need extra help, such as stories to work through difficult experiences, or special sessions to learn social skills. Practitioners work with families, other staff, and outside agencies when needed.

Recognising Progress in Affective Development

Children’s affective development can be seen in many ways, such as:

• Smiling and approaching others confidently
• Talking about their feelings
• Comforting a friend who is hurt
• Accepting praise and compliments
• Trying new activities
• Sticking with a task, even when it is difficult
• Showing pride in their achievements

Practitioners observe children over time, sharing progress with families and using observations to plan further support.

Final Thoughts

Affective development in early years means helping children to recognise, understand, and manage their feelings, build healthy relationships, and develop confidence and empathy. Warm relationships and secure attachments with adults lay the foundation for lifelong mental wellbeing.

Support for affective development runs through every part of early years provision, from play and stories to daily routines and family links. With patient, caring adults, children build the emotional skills they need for life.