Support for children starting nursery school: Social and emotional development

Social and emotional development helps children understand their feelings, build confidence, develop friendships, and learn how to interact positively with others. Supporting these skills from an early age helps children manage emotions, cope with challenges, and feel secure in different situations.

Everyday activities, play, and spending time with family and peers all help children develop these important skills.

Why relationships matter

Strong, supportive relationships are a vital foundation for a child's mental well-being and overall health. They help children feel safe, happy, respected, and ready to learn when they start nursery school.

Signs of a healthy relationship

Healthy relationships help children feel secure and valued. In early childhood, this is built through:

  • respect: listening to each other, valuing different opinions, and learning how to share or resolve disagreements gently
  • trust: feeling safe, secure, and knowing they can rely on the adults and friends around them
  • honesty: open, direct communication and kind, active listening
  • support: providing care, encouragement, and a strong sense of belonging

Unhealthy relationships and warning signs

Unhealthy interactions or environments can cause young children to feel stressed, anxious, or isolated. Warning signs that a child might be uncomfortable or struggling with a relationship include:

  • feeling controlled or bossed around constantly
  • experiencing jealousy or being excluded from play
  • feeling neglected or ignored by peers or adults
  • not having choices or a say in their own play

Activities to promote healthy relationships

You can help your child practice building positive friendships and strong bonds through simple, everyday play:

  • role-play: use toys or puppets to practice sharing, taking turns, and using kind words
  • relationship sorting game: use picture cards to help children identify kind behaviours (like sharing a toy) versus unkind behaviours (like snatching)
  • community collage: draw or make a collage of the people and places, like their new nursery, that make them feel safe and included

Support and advice for families

Building strong relationships and supporting children's emotional wellbeing is a shared responsibility between families, schools and communities.

For practical advice, activities and support, visit;