Oklahoma State Assessment Test (OSAT) Early Childhood Education Practice Test

What emotional skill develops between 18 to 36 months?

1. Understanding complex emotions

2. Detecting feelings in others

3. Knowing reality from fantasy

4. Expressing emotions clearly

The correct answer is: Detecting feelings in others

During the developmental stage of 18 to 36 months, children primarily enhance their ability to detect feelings in others. This skill involves recognizing and interpreting the emotional expressions of those around them, such as understanding when someone is happy, sad, or angry. This age range is critical for social development, as toddlers begin to engage more with peers and caregivers, helping them to learn important social cues. At this stage, children are becoming more aware of their environment and the reactions of others. They begin to mimic emotional expressions and may show empathy although it is still in its early form. The development of this skill lays the groundwork for more complex emotional understanding in later years, but it is the ability to notice and respond to others' emotions that is most significant in this age group. While understanding complex emotions, knowing reality from fantasy, and expressing emotions clearly are important aspects of emotional development, these skills are typically developed further as children grow older. The ability to detect feelings in others is a fundamental step in this emotional journey for toddlers.