Scaffolding children's growth in any area meansknowing the child's developmental status. Scaffoldingchildren's growth requires understanding when andhow to "provide tasks at the upper end of the child'scurrent abilities (in the zone of proximal develop-ment), as well as patient, encouraging assistance and feedback coordinated with the child's self-regulatoryefforts (that is, scaffolding)" (Berk & Wins ler, 1995,p. 48). To affect the future is to apply scaffolding tochildren's learning of social competence.