I have been reviewing the web site of Zero to Three,
National center for infants, toddlers and families. The section that stood out
the most to me was behavior and development, early development.
I was listening to a podcast about how emotional develop
unfolds starting at birth. A doctor from the University of California has great
insights on infant emotions. Babies’ facial expressions tell it all. Research
is paying attention to the babies’ reactions and how they respond to certain
situations and people. One of the examples Dr. Ross used is an infant can
become depressed at ten months olds and show signs of withdrawal because the
parent is depressed.
Listening to this podcasts made me thing about the
infants in my classroom. It makes me think if something is really wrong with
them. I have an infant who has a disturbing father but caring mother and arouse
curiosity about the infant due to his rude acts to his wife and children in
front of other children and staff. I also have an infant who is not a colicky baby,
but cries hysterically often. This is actually a new thing that just started.
He will hardly eat and now sleeps less and cannot figure out why he’s always
crying. It makes me wonder if I am trying to understand the causes.
Dr. Ross says “, it really requires that we shift our
mindset a little bit to understand that as much as we are striving as parents
to remain sensitive to what’s going on inside our infants and young children,
that they too could also be extremely attentive to and sensitive to the
feelings of the adults who they’re attached to” ( Thompson R, 2014).
Some parents and teachers can become impatient when dealing
with other children, but since we cannot understand everything, it is imperative
that we are patient and the older they get, more understanding. I have learned
with research to back me up that children tend to understand more when they are
talked to more. Even as infants, when talking becomes repetitive, they began to
understand more. It helps them with transitions in their life. So I have
learned that parents should allow children the experience of learning to cope where
there are limitations to how a child can react and get away with and how we are
better able to deal with it.
http://www.zerotothree.org/
Dear Kweshonte,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting podcast. I am also browsing around the Zero to Three Website. I have not yet gone into podcasts. The NIEER website has some very interesting videos that I have been watching, find them at www.Nieer.org. The idea of withdrawn and even depressed infants is heart breaking. It really helps us to understand that the mindset and psychological well being of the parent is so vital to a healthy parent child bond and attachment. In these instances, a positive relationship with a primary caregiver in preschool is so important for development. Especially for children who spend so many hours a week in early care.