Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/infants-and-toddlers-what-have-we-learned-from-research-on-social-emotional-development/5023351/
The past decades have seen the emergence of surprising and interesting new knowledge about the social-emotional development of infants and toddlers. Below, we summarize findings that help us gain new respect for, and new determination to support, the growth and development of very young children.
Emotions
Infants and toddlers express a range of emotions. By six weeks, infants give dazzling social smiles to familiar, loving caregivers who feel deeply the joy of those smiles. Babies by three to four months also give facial/emotional signals and cries of distress, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, pain, and anger (Chóliz, Fernández-Abasca, & Martínez-Sánchez, 2012; Malatesta & Haviland, 1982).
Young children can also feel jealous. Jealously is defined as the threat of losing to a rival, or losing former exclusivity in a valued relationship (White & Mullin, 1989). When mom talked with another adult, 10% of five-month-olds cried; but 50% cried when mom cuddled another baby (Draghi-Lorenz et al., 2001). When mom cuddled a baby doll, 13-month-olds showed anger and sadness as mom gave gentle cooing attention to a ‘stranger’ baby. They often ceased playing, acted resistant to mom’s suggestions, and struggled to re-secure mom’s exclusive attention by clinging, whining, and pestering her for attention (Hart, 2015).Toddler jealousy at the birth of a newborn sibling ...