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Of all that brain science has taught us over the last 30 years, one of the clearest findings is that early brain development is directly influenced by babies’ day-to-day interactions with their caregivers.

Reading the articles in thisÌýYoung ChildrenÌýcluster about social and emotional development, I can’t help but dream of a world in which all children reap the benefits of the research-based practices highlighted here.

Many behaviors have cultural roots that teachers can capitalize on to foster each child’s developing identity, share cultural lessons with the whole class, and help children cultivate shared norms for their behavior as students.

As a master’s student reflecting on my elementary school education, I realized that the academic knowledge that I gained each year seemed to have been related to the social and emotional feel of the classroom.

From learning activities to transitions, children’s challenging behavior can influence every aspect of a classroom.

When children struggle with self-regulation, it is difficult for them to sit still, concentrate, and participate in learning activities.