EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND SOCIO-EMOTIONAL

Abstract

Early childhood education in Colombia plays a fundamental role in children's socio-emotional development, as this stage is crucial for laying the foundation for social, emotional, and cognitive skills that will support their overall growth. In the country, educational policy has recognized the importance of promoting environments that foster emotional development from the earliest years, integrating pedagogical approaches that prioritize attention to emotions, empathy, and emotional regulation. For this reason, this essay's general objective is to analyze how early childhood education promotes socio-emotional development in Colombia. It is clear that in Colombia, early childhood education programs are designed to strengthen socio-emotional competencies through recreational activities, cooperative games, and inclusive pedagogical practices. Pedagogy at this stage seeks to promote skills such as self-esteem, autonomy, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution. Furthermore, it is recognized that the family and community environment has a direct impact on a child's emotional development. Therefore, educational institutions work in conjunction with families and social organizations to create support networks that promote healthy emotional growth.