Emotional competences refer to the skills and knowledge needed to recognize, understand, express, regulate emotions and to control the ways to express them. Research has shown that emotional competence is crucial for children's development and success in later life. The paper analyzes various factors that connect the development of emotional competences of early and preschool children, parenting style, quality of relationships with peers and educators, and environment and family factors. The importance of the support provided by parents and educators in the development of children's emotional competences is also investigated. Through programs, methods and activities used in educational institutions, but also in the family environment, the importance of empowering children in understanding and managing their own emotions, as well as developing social skills, is emphasized. The aim of this final paper is to provide an overview of emotional competences in children of early and preschool age, their development and connection with the overall quality of life of the individual, and to offer guidelines to support their development with an emphasis on the pedagogical aspect.