Emotional and Social Development in Infancy and Toddlerhood

8 stages each with a crisis that you have to overcome, a desireable trait and a nondesireable trait

Infancy til 2 years

The caregivers because child is completely dependent on them

When needs are consistently met, the child will learn people care for him
The infant will be in good health and happy
Faith in surroundings and feel safe and secure

Neglected or treated poorly
lack of interest in surroundings and have poor health
infantile depression lead to later depression
suspicion

2 to 3 years
children focused on developing sense of control
toilet training plays a major role

Explore surroundings
look for new stimulating things
explore by themselves
sense of self control and adequacy

Opposite, withdrawn, lack of confidence wont leave moms side
feelings of shame and doubt

Happiness, interest, surprise fear sadness and disgust
universal in humans

First attraction to pleasant things and withdrawal to unpleasant things
then emotions become well organzied
a supportive caregiver with good communication helps

Babies can match the tone of others early on in face to face
by 3 to 4 mos babies become more sensitive to timing
by 4 to 5 mos babies can distinguish positive from negative tones and facial expressions
by toddlerhood - use emotional signals to guide actions
social referencing

When infants seek emotional info from safe person in uncertain situation

Strategies used to adjust emotional states to a comfortable level
babies depend on caregivers to soothe
4 to 6 mos babies can self soothe
end of second year - with language skills and mental representation toddlers are better at self regulation

Differences in reactivity and self regulation

Easy child- quick to establish regular routines, happy, adapts easily to new experiences
Difficult child- no regular routines, slow to accept change, react negatively and intensely
Slow to warm up child- inactive, mild lowkey reactions, adjust slowly to new experiences