Final answer:
Assisting the mother with educational resources on child development and behavior is the best way to help her understand her child's actions and learn appropriate responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social worker can best assist the mother by providing resources on child development and behavior. This option is beneficial because it is directly educational for the mother, providing her with knowledge on normal child behavior, expectations at different developmental stages, and how to handle typical behavioral issues. Understanding that a 4-year-old's behavior is often guided by their desires and that they are just learning to navigate social interactions would likely ease the mother's concerns.
Moreover, teaching the mother about different parenting styles, especially the authoritative style which encourages healthy socioemotional growth, could help her respond better to her daughter's actions. It would also be important to share insights into how social factors and historical periods affect child-rearing practices, emphasizing that what may be perceived as selfishness could be a manifestation of the child's burgeoning sense of autonomy, as they are in the stage of resolving 'autonomy versus shame and doubt.'