How to Support Your Infant’s Social Emotional Development

Date : Friday, February 13 2009
Source: Department of Workforce Services

As your baby grows, she will develop an understanding of her interactions with people and her influence on her world. Interacting and relating to other people, including recognizing other people’s emotions through their tone, actions or facial expressions are an important part of social emotional development.

Social emotional development refers to the development of the ability to form close relationships; to experience, manage and express emotions; and to feel good about oneself. Social emotional development is just as important as physical development, and like a child’s overall development, your child’s sense of self is shaped by his early interactions and experiences. A healthy social emotional development is basic to all learning and as such serves as your child’s foundation for school readiness and for future quality relationships.

What you can do:

• All babies need to feel they are special and loved. Even the youngest babies love to be touched, sung to, held and rocked. Just by talking to your baby on a regular basis, she will begin to understand that there are important people in her life who care for her and think she is wonderful. It is as important to be nurturing to your baby when she’s in a good mood as when she is fussy. When you are there during the tough times, children develop security from being loved unconditionally.
• Babies need to feel safe and secure. A way to build that feeling of security is by responding to her cries and other forms of communication.  Non-verbal cues may include things such as lifting her arms in the air when she wants to be picked up or clinging to your leg when she needs a little extra attention. By responding to her, you are demonstrating that you are there when she needs you.
• Babies begin the process of separating from the adults around them as soon as they become mobile. Yet don’t be surprised if you find her coming back to check-in and make sure you’re still there during her new discoveries. By reassuring herself that you’re available and nearby, she will increase her comfort in further exploration.
• Daily routines are very important for babies. The predictability of their day helps them feel safe, confident and in control of their world. Activities such as meals, naps, story time and baths at regular times help establish those important routines and the associated sense of control.
• Watch your child’s behavior and emotions throughout the day and evening. She will begin to develop her own patterns and schedules of when she needs physical connection and when she needs a little more space. You may find your baby becoming fussy while being held at certain times in the evening or wriggling away when being held too much. By attending to these signs and determining how to increase her comfort, you will show her that her needs and feelings are important.