Mimicking can be helpful in dealing with an upset infant. Researchers have found that if a parent first mimics a child’s unhappy expression, then lighten the moods by using a positive voice and smiling at the infant, the child is likely to smile back to. Why do you think this might be??

 Emotional & Social development begin at birth and continue throughout life  They are as important as physical development to becoming a healthy and happy adult  Emotional Development is the process of learning to recognize and express feelings and to establish a personal identity  A child who experiences healthy emotional development will be self-confident Handle stress Empathy for other  We are all born with the ability to experience emotions – a feeling response to the world around us  Emotions grow more complex with age

 Parents and caregivers = huge role in shaping a baby’s emotions  Encourage positive emotions Return a baby’s smile  Cope with negative emotions Rocking a frightened baby teaches her to become clam again after a scary experience  Babies also learn how to react to certain situations  Joyful Parents = baby approaches life with happiness & interest  Anxious parents = fearful baby

 Due to lack of vocabulary – infants show many needs and emotions through crying  2 months – babies will start to vary their cries to express different feelings  Parents may eventually learn what each cry means??  Adds to baby’s comfort & encourages expressions of emotions.  Some babies rarely cry & are easy to comfort when they do!! (“easy” or “good”)  Other babies may cry loudly and often. It can be difficult to comfort them

 A baby who is crying needs attention  Check for physical problems (hungry, diaper change, cold/hot, burp)  Needs company or cuddling  Baby needs help to go to sleep  Getting to know the baby – allows you to figure out best comforting measure/technique  Techniques:  Cuddle  Move the baby  Sing  Offer a toy  Message

 Babies find ways to comfort themselves.  Many babies soothe themselves with a favorite blanket or stuffed toy  Special attachment to the object and use it for comfort when they are sleepy or anxious  Twisting their hair, rocking themselves  Usually will give up habit when ready

 Thumb sucking, sucking fist/fingers, or pacifier  Is a basic urge in infants  Most babies stop sucking their thumbs at 6 or 7 months  Parents should only be concerned when it interferes with teeth development  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends if using a pacifier, use one that is the correct size and shape for the baby’s age  Large enough that the entire pacifier does not fit in mouth  Sanitize frequently  Never tie around neck or hand  Do not use as a replacement for food

 Normal for infants to cry between one – three hours a day  Two most common causes that causes:  Colic Uncontrollable crying by an otherwise healthy baby  Reflux

 What techniques do babies use to comfort themselves?  What techniques will caregivers use to comfort infants?  Why do babies cry?  Typically, how many hours will the average infant cry?  What are two possible reasons why infants cry more than the average number?  Who is the biggest influence on emotional/social development during infancy? Why?

 Attachments = CRUCIAL to the healthy development of an infant  Attachment – baby’s bond to his/her main caregiver  Begins in the first few months of life  Fully formed – around 2 If not, may have difficulty with relationships later in life  Attachments helps build healthy, loving relationships later in life  Erik Erikson  1 st year – trust vs mistrust

 What do you think that word trust means?  Why is it important to raise trusting children?  How does a sense of trust help society as a whole?

 Key part of social development  According to Erikson, infants learn trust by:  Having a consistent environment Same routines, caregivers, surroundings  Having basic needs met Food, clothing, warmth, sleep, Cleanliness, cuddling, playing, Communicating with others Erikson’s Trust vs Mistrust

 Famous research studies have show how important that bond is….  Harry Harlow  Made monkey shaped forms out of chicken wire & soft cloth  He used these to raise baby monkeys  His findings: baby monkeys clung to the “mothers” made of soft cloth – even if the chicken wire “mommies” held their feeding bottles  Thus – monkeys needed to feel physical closeness as well as food

 Harlow also found:  That once monkey was grown – he/she didn’t know how to relate to other monkeys   They did not develop normal social skills His belief: lack of interaction between baby and real mommy  Research from Romania confirms this: Physical & Emotional Development – slower Baylor University – abused and neglected children – % smaller brains

 Physical contact – helps build attachment  Infants = touch  Need to be held and cuddled  Primary sense for infants

 World – strange place for newborns  Early experiences – comfortable place or a confusing, difficult place  Needs met, bonds with caregiver = comfortable, sense of security  Care giver - Constant changing schedules, happy one minute, mad the next = difficult to build trust  Infants – respond to care givers voice, facial expressions & eye contact

 Touching babies – helps their brains grow  Touch causes new pathways (networks of neurons) to form in a baby’s brain  Loving touch – brain – trust human contact  Lack of contact – affects brain development  Neglected/abused babies – 20-30% smaller than average  Failure to Thrive – babies do not grow and develop properly.

 How do you think the temperaments of a child and parent will influence their relationship???  On a sheet of white paper, you are to create a mini poster over the 9 temperaments

 Why is touch so important to infants?  What is attachment? Is it important?  Briefly explain Harry Harlow experiment/theory.  Who is John Bowlby?  How do infants comfort themselves?  How do caregivers comfort infants?  What are two reasons babies cry more than average?

 Temperament – a person’s unique emotional makeup  Another key factor in emotional development  Helps determine how baby will react to environment  Understanding baby’s temperament will help you provide the best possible care  Observe baby to find out

 Remember temperament traits cannot be changed  Adapt reactions to a child’s specific traits  Should not be punished for trait  For example: Shy infant – hold their hand when introducing people. Allow the child to warm up to the individual instead of handing your child immediately off  Your responsibility as a care giver – adapt to the temperament of the child – not the other way around  Caregiver – low energy, baby – high energy – provide safe opportunities for the child

 Babies – sensitive to the feelings of people around them  Influenced by adult emotions long before they know the meaning of words  Every family has ups and downs  Normal for caregivers to feel occasional frustration & anger toward beloved child, but affection & caring should be the basis of interactions  Handling unwanted/negative feelings – challenge for every parent  Find ways (healthy) to release those negative feelings away from the children Can help create a caring environment Every parent needs someone to give them emotional support

1. List the most important influences on a child’s emotional development. 2. Explain ways to build attachment to support a baby’s emotional development. 3. Describe ways to resolve temperament conflicts. 4. Explain why it is important for parents to not express negative feelings around their children (constantly). 5. Temperament, family, culture and institutions (churches, schools) are important influences on your identity. You are also influenced by your peers. Write (2 paragraphs) describing the people, places and things that you think have influenced your identity since you were a baby and why?