Emotional Development means developing a full range of emotions, from sad to happy to angry, and learning to handle them appropriately. This leads to deeper qualities – sympathy, caring, resilience, self-esteem, assertiveness and being able to rise to life's challenges.

Comfort Through the comfort and responsiveness of an adult, babies will learn how to handle their emotions and how to seek help when needed. Parents Can: Watch to see what helps their baby self-sooth, and encourage this behaviour Allow their baby to attach to a special toy or blanket Child Will: Use a special blanket or toy as a way of comforting himself Learn to cope with his emotions Use his blanket to feel safe and secure Parents Can: Consistently respond to their baby's bids for attention and 'calls' for help Child Will: Learn that she can depend on you when she needs help Learn that others are available for emotional support Feel loved and secure Parents Can: Call to their baby when in another room, to give him reassurance that they are close by Child Will: Understand that you will return after a brief separation Develop a sense of trust and security

Play Through opportunities for play, babies will experience joyful, free, spontaneous moments of fun while also learning about themselves and others. Parents Can: Use everyday routines such as feeding, bathing or diapering as a time to play, for example, gentle tickles, peek-a-boo or finger plays Child Will: Feel reassured about what to expect and will enjoy responding to your emotions Seek your attention more in order to play more Parents Can: Provide a safe play space for their baby, such as on the floor. Get down and join the play Child Will: Try to engage you using gestures and sounds Communicate the activities she likes or dislikes with gestures, for example, reaching towards a toy she likes and pushing away a toy she dislikes Parents Can: Provide opportunities for them and their baby to spend time with other babies Child Will: Enjoy the company of other babies Try to communicate to other babies Try to engage other babies with sounds or gestures Parents Can: Go slowly with their baby, and not force her to go to someone she is not sure of or doesn't know Child Will: Need time to warm up to a stranger Approach someone new on her terms, for example, offering a person a toy and then taking it back or bringing out lots of toys so the attention goes to the toys rather than on the baby

Teach Through routines, and emotionally and physically safe and secure environments, babies can learn how to think, solve problems and communicate. Parents Can: Give names to common actions and describe everyday routines Child Will: Start to recognize certain words or make associations between words and events Try to mimic the sounds you make Respond to your voice Parents Can: Create a routine for times when they have to be away from their baby Keep comfort toys or objects within close reach Leave their baby with a familiar person Child Will: Look to other people who are familiar for reassurance and comfort Express emotions that demonstrate her attachment to you Parents Can: Create routines for all regularly occurring events, such as diapering, bedtime, feeding or play time Inform their baby about events, for example, "I need to change your diaper. Let's take your toy to the change table" Child Will: Begin to learn what is happening next Feel respected as an individual Feel safe and secure

Related Resources

Books for Parents

Baby Play: 100 Fun-Filled Activities to Maximize Your Baby's Potential