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Chapter 10 Social-Emotional Development in the First Year 275
Study on the go
Use a mobile device to
practice terms and review with
self-assessment quizzes.
While studying this chapter, look for the online resources icon to:
www.g-wlearning.com/childdevelopment www.m.g-wlearning.com/0384
• Practice terms with e-flash cards and interactive games
• Assess what you learn by completing self-assessment
quizzes
• Expand knowledge with interactive activities and graphic
organizers
As a class, read the case study and discuss the questions that follow. After you fi nish studying the chapter,
discuss this case study again. Have your opinions changed based on what you learned?
The Millers have been very protective of their daughter since birth. Once she started crawling, everything
in the house seemed dangerous even though a professional had childproofed their home. The Millers
purchased pillows, cushions, and mats to protect their daughter from germs on the fl oor and from bumping
into furniture. They even bought her a helmet and special pants with kneepads.
During the last few well-baby checkups, the pediatrician noted how the Millers constantly said no to
their daughter if she reached for items in his examination room because these “had germs.” Seeing the
helmet, however, triggered the pediatrician to remark to the Millers that the baby needs a balance between
natural risk taking and their safety precautions.
Stunned by this comment, the Millers sat in silence. What does the pediatrician mean? Wasn’t it their
job to keep their daughter healthy, safe, and happy? Shouldn’t they always be protective?
Can an Infant’s Parents Be Too Cautious?
Lesson 10.1
The Social-Emotional World of Babies
Lesson 10.2
Meeting Social-Emotional Needs in the First Year
1. What does the pediatrician mean by fi nding a
balance between the baby’s natural risk taking
and the parent’s safety practices? Do you think
there is just one balance point or could there be
more than one? Explain your answer.
2. How might allowing some risk taking keep
children safer in the long run?
3. What beliefs and negative emotions might the
Miller’s be possibly instilling in their daughter?
4. In some medical circles, there is a belief called
the “hygiene hypothesis.” This hypothesis
suggests infant exposure to some bacteria
and viruses builds a strong immune system
and protects children from allergies, asthma,
and autoimmune diseases during adulthood.
Exposure during infancy may also promote
less body infl ammation associated with other
diseases, such as heart disease. What do you
think about the “hygiene hypothesis”?