Lets define what is emotional development in early childhood education Emotional development , emergence of the experience, expression, understanding, and regulation of emotions from birth and the growth and change in these capacities throughout childhood , adolescence , and adulthood . The development of emotions occurs in conjunction with neural, cognitive , and behavioral development and emerges within a particular social and cultural context . Lets look at another definition a gradual increase in the capacity to experience, express, and interpret the full range of emotions and in the ability to cope with them appropriately. For example, infants begin to smile and frown around 8 weeks of age and to laugh around 3 or 4 months, and older children begin to learn that hitting others is not an acceptable way of dealing with anger. Expressions of delight, fear, anger, and disgust are evident by 6 months of age, and fear of strangers from 8 months. Expressions of affection