Which of the following best describes a social/emotional delay?

A social/emotional delay specifically refers to challenges that a child experiences in understanding emotions, relating to others, and developing relationships. This encompasses issues such as difficulty recognizing or expressing feelings, forming friendships, and navigating social interactions.

In the context of normal development, social and emotional skills are critical for overall functioning, allowing children to communicate needs, empathize with others, and engage in cooperative play. When a child exhibits a social/emotional delay, it indicates that they may not be progressing in these areas at the expected pace compared to their peers. Recognizing and addressing these delays early on is important to provide appropriate interventions that can help the child develop these essential life skills.

The other options focus on delays in different domains such as cognitive skills, physical milestones, and academic achievements, which do not specifically address the social and emotional aspects of a child's development.