Which of the following most accurately describes aspects of early childhood social development?

• A. Young children develop and apply motor skills before verbal skills.
• B. Social development occurs independently of motor skills.
• C. Verbal skills always come before motor skills.
• D. Emotional development is not related to social development.

Answer: (A)

Movement supports social interaction in early childhood. As children develop gross motor skills—walking, running, climbing—they’re able to join in, imitate peers, and participate in shared games. This physical capability opens the door to social exchanges even before verbal language is fully developed. So motor skills often precede and enable social engagement, providing a foundation on which later language and more complex social interactions build. The idea that social development happens independently of motor skills isn’t accurate, and language doesn’t always come before motor, while emotional and social development are closely connected and influence one another.