From the very beginning, every diaper change, meal or snuggle will teach your new infant how to interact with the world. According to the National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families, "A child's social-emotional development is as important as her brain and physical development. It is her desire to connect with others that motivates her to learn. And her sense of who she is in the world deeply impacts how much and how well she learns, as well as the quality of the relationships she builds with others" In order to help your baby grow well, it's important to have an understanding of your infant's emotional and social needs in each stage of life.
1 to 3 Months
The first three months of your baby's life are arguably the most important for a healthy social and emotional development. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that an infant's caregivers will meet his physical and emotional needs, and because of this, he will ultimately develop a sense of trust. Trust is incredibly important in the overall development of a long, healthful life. The CDC states, "The way you cuddle, hold, and play with your baby will set the basis for how he will interact with you and others."
4 to 6 Months
From 4 to 6 months, your baby will begin to pick up on social and emotional clues from her environment. She will learn to recognize faces and voices of familiar people and will respond positively or negatively to those visual and auditory clues. At this age, a baby smiles and laughs when happy, and cries when she is upset, feels pain or hunger or is angry. Also, your infant will begin babbling and gurgling as she learns to communicate verbally with you.
7 to 12 Months
At this point in your infant's social development, he is now learning how to communicate with you through language by saying words like "da-da." By the time he is 12 months of age, your infant is able to understand "no," and will cease certain actions if asked. Another way he will display a healthy social and emotional development is through watching himself in a mirror and smiling often.
Significance
The National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families states that while your child is in her first year of life, her brain is developing at a rapid rate. This rapid brain development allows her to make connections, form relationships, and create a positive identity that will help her make senes of the world as she moves through it as a child, a teen and an adult. A positive social and emotional development will ultimately act as a springboard for a healthy, well-adjusted life as she grows older, giving her the skills to become an effective member of her community.
Tips for Encouraging Healthy Development
In order to help your baby have a positive emotional and social development, try activities such as talking or singing to your infant. Your voice will help that sense of trust and familiarity develop. Also, take the time to hold, cuddle and soothe him. Through your touch, he becomes familiar with you, feels loved and is comforted by your presence. He will learn that someone responds to his needs.
Also, be kind to yourself at this time. One of the most important things you can do for your infant's development is to take time for yourself. Your baby will develop better when he has a healthy caregiver.
