Social Emotional Development
Development of the capacity to form close and secure adult and peer relationships
Expression of emotions in socially and culturally appropriate ways
Exploration of the environment and learning— in the context of family, community, and culture
Beginning immediately after birth, a baby’s brain is primed to grow and make connections through meaningful experiences
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
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)
T/F: Few infants are born biologically ready for relationships : FALSE
T/F Babies prefer looking at faces: TRUE
T/F: Infants' brain development is completely determined and designed based on genetics: FALSE
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.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard states that the first five years of life are crucial for emotional development, starting at birth.
Emotions in the early stage are strongly influenced and intertwined with the relationship they have with others, particularly their caregivers
Hard-wired to make emotional and social connections
Primed to look at mother, preference for faces over objects, visual acuity
Look longer at positive emotions, prefer altruistic acts
Emotional development plays a key role in a child’s health and well-being, both short and long-term.
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
Development of the capacity to form close and secure adult and peer relationships
Expression of emotions in socially and culturally appropriate ways
Exploration of the environment and learning— in the context of family, community, and culture
Beginning immediately after birth, a baby’s brain is primed to grow and make connections through meaningful experiences
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
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)
T/F: Few infants are born biologically ready for relationships : FALSE
T/F Babies prefer looking at faces: TRUE
T/F: Infants' brain development is completely determined and designed based on genetics: FALSE
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.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard states that the first five years of life are crucial for emotional development, starting at birth.
Emotions in the early stage are strongly influenced and intertwined with the relationship they have with others, particularly their caregivers
Hard-wired to make emotional and social connections
Primed to look at mother, preference for faces over objects, visual acuity
Look longer at positive emotions, prefer altruistic acts
Emotional development plays a key role in a child’s health and well-being, both short and long-term.
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