Social Emotional Development

Emotional development plays a key role in

________a child's health and well- being, both short and long- term.

Supportive and caring environments and reciprocal, nurturing relationships are critical aspects to

________healthy lifelong development, beginning from the first days of birth and beyond, changing actual brain circuitry.

T F: Infants 'brain development is completely determined and designed based on genetics:

________FALSE.

T/F Babies prefer looking at faces

TRUE

Emotions in the early stage are strongly influenced and intertwined with

the relationship they have with others, particularly their caregivers

T/F: Few infants are born biologically ready for relationships :

FALSE

Connections help develop

trust, empathy, and protect from stress and even negate effects of adverse life events and trauma.

Understanding the significance of emotional development, connectedness is important for

prevention, policy, and intervention (supporting parents, facilitating environment, role of school personnel, educators and providers)

Infants are hard-wired to

make emotional and social connections

Beginning immediately after birth, a baby’s brain is primed to

grow and make connections through meaningful experiences

Social and emotional development involves the development of

the capacity to form close and secure adult and peer relationships

Social and emotional development involves the expression of

emotions in socially and culturally appropriate ways

Social and emotional development involves the exploration of

the environment and learning— in the context of family, community, and culture

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard states that the first five years of life are

crucial for emotional development, starting at birth.

Babies are primed to look at

their mother

Babies have a visual preference for

faces over objects

What kind of acts do babies prefer?

altruistic acts

Babies look longer at

positive emotions

When infants and toddlers feel safe and have their needs met,

they are more likely to observe, explore, play, interact, and experiment with people and objects.

2 months

• Calms down when spoken to or picked up

• Looks at your face

• Smiles at people when they talk or smile

• Cries when hungry, wet, tired, or wants to be held

4 months

• Smiles on own to get attention

• Begins making early noise sounds of laughter when prompted to laugh

• Looks at you, moves, or makes sound to get or keep your attention

• Smiles or coos at self in the mirror

6 months

• Knows familiar people

• Enjoys looking at self in a mirror

• Laughs

• Plays by grabbing foot when laying on back

9 months

• Is shy, clingy, or fearful of strangers

• Shows several facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, surprised

• Looks when you call their name

• Reacts when you leave (looks, reaches for you, or cries)

• Smiles or laughs when you play peek-a-boo