This short article gives some information what a young social competence child looks like. It talks about how social skills can be extremely vital to a child's growth:
"Recent research (Hartup & Moore, 1990; Kinsey, 2000; Ladd & Profilet, 1996; McClellan & Kinsey, 1999; Parker & Asher, 1987; Rogoff, 1990) suggests that a child's long-term social and emotional adaptation, academic and cognitive development, and citizenship are enhanced by frequent opportunities to strengthen social competence during childhood.
Hartup (1992) notes that peer relationships in particular contribute a great deal to both social and cognitive development and to the effectiveness with which we function as adults. He states that "the single best childhood predictor of adult adaptation is not school grades, and not classroom behavior, but rather, the adequacy with which the child gets along with other children. Children who are generally disliked, who are aggressive and disruptive, who are unable to sustain close relationships with other children, and who cannot establish a place for themselves in the peer culture are seriously at risk" (Hartup, 1992, p. 1). The risks are many: poor mental health, dropping out of school, low achievement and other school difficulties, and poor employment history (Katz & McClellan, 1997). "But mainly it gives a checklist of attributes of socially component child. Things such as:
- "[Child] is usually in a positive mood."
- "[Child] Is not excessively dependent on adults."
- "[Child] Approaches others positively."
While analyzing this source I feel that the authors intent is to inform it's reader's of the importance being socially competent at an early age. I believe their audience is directed toward people who interested developmental growth, children's growth, parents, etc. They give indicators what a socially competent child looks like and they cite many different sources which makes their discussion creditable.
Looking at the source, I feel like maybe things have changed since 2001 when this article was published. But I do believe that having these social skills are extremely important. Interdependence is extremely important in life, you have to rely on people. Having good social skills helps strengthen this.
Overall I feel like this article is pretty straight-forward. I ask myself can a not-social young child be social later in their life? People who have loners in life, is that because of a lack of social at a younger age?