Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Chapter 10 Social-Emotional Development in the First Year 293
themselves. Fostering good feelings in babies seems
to increase the joy and love between children and
their caregivers.
Encouraging Attachment
The most important asset a child can have is the
knowledge that someone has unconditional love
(deep affection without limitations) for him or her
and will always be supportive. A child becomes
attached to this person. The quality of this attach-
ment is a powerful predictor (something that is
useful in making a prediction) of social-emotional
outcome (Figure 10.13).
Many years will pass before children can
verbally identify those who unconditionally love and
support them. How do infants sense this love and
support and develop attachments? Babies have
needs and can signal these needs. Infants attach to
caregivers who bring warmth, care, and security
and make them feel loved, worthy of care, and
safe. Through the nurturing relationship, positive
connections are made in the brain. Depriving a
child of the nurturing relationship leads to negative
brain effects.
To encourage attachment, parents and other
caregivers need to understand and practice the
following:
• Realize the most important adult behavior
in forming attachment is correctly,
consistently, and promptly responding to
the baby’s signals of needs in a loving way.
• Sing and play music. Babies like the quiet
tones of lullabies or even a steady tone,
such as the hum of a ceiling fan or the
bubbling sound from an aquarium.
• Take the baby for a car ride or a ride in a
stroller.
• Stroke the baby to relieve tension.
A newborn’s constant cries cause tension in
parents. Relief from tension is good for family
relationships. Using a babysitter for an hour or
even an entire afternoon may help parents reduce
their tension.
Serving and Responding
Babies need parents who serve and respond.
Physical and vocal signals and responses shape
the feelings between parents and their newborns.
Babies feel love through physical contact with the
adult. The quality of the relationship is infl uenced
less by the total number of messages than by the
quality of these messages. Even the most loving
parents may miss a few opportunities to serve or
respond because they are hurried or tense. In a
healthy relationship, the balance must be on the
positive side.
Child-adult relationships are mostly one-sided
for many years. Infants may give some smiles and
hugs, but adults do most of the giving. This giving
is important, because the feelings adults show for
babies help to shape the picture children form of
Figure 10.12
The Meanings of Cries
Cause Sounds of Cry Ways to Respond
Pain Cycle begins with shrill
scream, followed by silence,
and ends with short gasps.
Cycle is repeated.
Respond immediately. Ease
pain if possible. Cuddle baby
to calm.
Hunger or
boredom
Slow cries that become
louder and rhythmic.
Feed if near feeding time.
OR
Entertain by giving baby a
tour of the house or yard.
Upset Fussy, rather quiet cry. Cry
sounds a bit forced.
Cuddle or entertain.