Social Skills in the Early Years: Supporting Social and Behavioural

In this review of Social Skills in the Early Years: Supporting Social and Behavioural Learning, the bottom line is simple: this book is a practical, practice-focused guide for early years practitioners who need realistic strategies to support young children's social, emotional and behavioural development. The reviewer found it especially useful for staff who work day-to-day with toddlers and preschoolers because the advice is grounded in achievable classroom and home routines rather than theoretical jargon. For anyone needing a readable reference on building social skills and self-esteem in young children, this book is worth consulting.

Key Features

• Practical strategies: Offers straightforward, implementable techniques that can be adapted during daily routines to support social and behavioural learning.
• Social skills focus: Explains ways to teach turn-taking, sharing and peer interaction to improve children's group participation and cooperation.
• Language support: Includes guidance on encouraging language skills that underpin emotional expression and conflict resolution in early years settings.
• Self-esteem emphasis: Presents sensible approaches to boosting children's confidence through positive feedback and manageable challenges.
• Training guidance: Suggests methods suitable for staff training and reflection so teams can work consistently on behaviour strategies.

Who It's For

This book is aimed at early years teachers, nursery staff, childminders and support workers who need practical, usable approaches to improve social and emotional learning in children from toddler to preschool age. It works best for practitioners looking for clear examples they can apply immediately rather than dense academic theory.

Those who primarily want an academic literature review or a textbook of research methods should look elsewhere; this title prioritises everyday approaches and staff-facing guidance over exhaustive research citations. Parents seeking a parenting manual with home-specific routines will find useful ideas but may prefer a parent-focused title for family routines.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Clear, actionable strategies that make it easier for staff to support social and behavioural development.
• Focus on language and self-esteem offers a rounded approach rather than a one-dimensional behaviour plan.
• Suitable for use in staff training, helping teams adopt consistent approaches across a setting.

Cons

• Not a deep academic text, so readers seeking extensive research citations may find it light on references.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Social Skills in the Early Years is a concise, practitioner-friendly guide that delivers sensible, realistic strategies for supporting young children's social and behavioural learning. It is good value for early years settings and staff development because it translates common challenges into practical actions that can be integrated into daily routines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for parents as well as practitioners?
Yes, parents will find helpful strategies, though the book is written primarily for early years professionals and training contexts.

Does it include training material for staff?
It provides guidance and approaches that can be used in staff training and reflective practice to promote consistent behaviour support.

Will it help with language development as part of behaviour support?
Yes, the book addresses language skills alongside social and self-esteem strategies to support emotional expression and conflict resolution.