Social-Emotional Developmental Delay and Disability

Social-emotional development is how children learn to understand and express their emotions, build relationships, and interact with others. It includes developing trust with parents and caregivers, learning to manage emotions, and beginning to play and communicate with other children.

Children develop social-emotional skills at different rates, but some children may need extra support. A child with social-emotional challenges may have difficulty forming relationships, expressing emotions, calming themselves, or interacting with others during everyday routines and activities.

If there are concerns about a child's social-emotional development, it's important to refer the child to the Early Intervention Program as early as possible. A multidisciplinary evaluation helps identify a child's strengths and needs and determines whether the child is eligible for the Early Intervention Program.

Early Intervention services are based on each child's individual strengths and needs. Services may help children build social-emotional skills, strengthen relationships, and participate in everyday routines and activities. They also help families support their child's social-emotional development.

Learn More

For more information about social-emotional development and the New York State Early Intervention Program, see:

Meeting the Social-Emotional Development Needs of Infants and Toddlers
Guidance for Early Intervention providers and other early childhood professionals on supporting the social-emotional development of infants and toddlers.