Analysis of Early Childhood Social Interaction Difficulties: A Content Analysis

Abstract

Social interaction is an important aspect of early childhood development that affects their ability to build relationships with others. However, not all children are able to interact optimally, so an in-depth understanding of the barriers and appropriate strategies to support their social development is needed. This study examines social interaction difficulties in early childhood, the factors that influence them, and strategies to support the development of positive social interactions. Using a qualitative method with a content analysis approach, this study analyzed 15-25 sources of scientific literature from databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Sinta, and Garuda published in the last ten years. The results show that social interaction is a fundamental aspect of early childhood development that influences communication skills, character building and social readiness. Factors that influence children's social interactions include parenting, the environment in which they grow up, interactions with peers, and the use of digital technology. Social interaction problems that are often encountered include withdrawn behavior, aggressiveness, difficulty sharing, and inability to understand the feelings of others. Strategies that can be applied to overcome social interaction difficulties include providing opportunities to play with peers, direct social skills training, avoiding coercion and comparing children, and increasing self-confidence. This study emphasizes the importance of the role of adults in creating an environment that supports optimal early childhood social development.