Six-year-olds care a great deal about friendship and belonging. They are curious about friends’ lives, ask questions and share stories with each other. They can engage in collaborative play and are increasingly sensitive to social rejection – including the ultimate threat of “you are not my friend anymore.” At this age, that usually means, “I am frustrated that things aren’t going my way,” and the conflict is often resolved quickly. You may also hear kids talk about best friends, but don’t be surprised if they have a new “best friend” every week.

Gratitude involves both feeling and expressing our thankfulness; it means we show our appreciation for others. According to the Harvard Healthbeat, “Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

At age two, social conflict can arise when one child takes a toy from another or makes a startling noise. In other words, conflict emerges as kids physically and emotionally "bump into each other" in confusing ways.

Young children can have big feelings, but not yet know how to handle them. Parents and caregivers can learn how to use coaching as a simple tool for responding to a child’s upset to build her emotional competence.