Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Chapter 10 Social-Emotional Development in the First Year 279 signals change in the following ways throughout the fi rst year: • Signals begin as early as two weeks after birth. Smiles with expressive eyes often occur around the fi fth or sixth week. • From three to six months, infants become even better at understanding and sending social signals. They also begin to distinguish between those who care for them and strangers. • Once infants have better arm and hand control and can easily creep, they initiate social contact. For example, infants may follow other family members around the house. Infants will also reach with their arms to signal they want to be held. Interacting with Adults Babies thrive most when they are held, talked to, cuddled, and comforted. They are often happier babies, crying less than those who receive little attention. Parents and caregivers help their baby’s intellectual development, as well as social devel- opment, by providing lots of loving care. At this stage, parents are in Galinsky’s nurturing stage of parenting (Figure 10.3). (You can review Galin- sky’s parenting stages in Figure 4.4 of the text.) Grandparents, friends, babysitters, and others are helpful to a baby’s total development. When these people care for and show an interest in them, babies learn to understand and trust others, which helps expand their social environment. If the baby’s fi rst relationships are negative due to parental depression, confl icts in the home, or other crises, social connections in the baby’s brain do not form properly. This is because “serve and return” relationships are faulty. In these faulty relationships, the adult does not “serve,” or when the child “serves,” the adult either does not return or returns without sensitivity. Interacting with Other Children Infants enjoy being around siblings (brothers and sisters) and other children, and tend to watch and follow them. Infants learn from older children and like to play with older children’s toys. Older children can learn lessons in loving and caring for others from infants, too. All children benefi t in these relationships. Showing Attachment Attachment is closeness between people that remains over time. As you may recall, bonding (developing a feeling of affection) is a special Figure 10.3 Galinsky’s nurturance parenting tasks include balancing a baby’s needs with personal needs and providing loving and consistent care to a baby. How do you think parenting tasks change as a child ages?