Chapter 5: Becoming Parents and Parenting Infants and Toddlers

Promoting the Social-Emotional Development of Infants and Toddlers

Parents should seek to adapt a parenting style that is responsive, sensitive, and provides contingent responsiveness. This will increase the bond between a parent and an infant, and lead to infant trust and secure attachment. 

When infants experience contingent responsiveness, their parents allow them to be actively engaged in the role of elicitor as well as the receiver of parental attention. Parents engage their infants in contingent responsiveness when they let their infant's signals guide them to meet their needs. When infants see that their needs are met, secure attachment is developed. Discovery Fit & Health - "Theories of Cognitive Development" This article talks about the different perspectives of four theorists in regards to cognitive development: Piaget, Gesell, Erikson, and Spock. 

• Benefits of Infant Attachment:

           - Infants are more responsive.

          - Infants show a more varied means of communication and tend to cry

           less.            

         - Infants have a more compliant attitude.

           - Infants tend to grow into children who portray competence in social 
           and cognitive skills.

Helpguide.org - Bonding With Your Baby

This article talks about the attachment bond between a parent and a child. It includes what the attachment bond is, the benefits for the child, and the difference between a secure and an insecure attachment bond. It also includes myths and facts about bonding and secure attachment.

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families - "Development of Social Emotional Skills"

I included this article because, not only does it talk about parental bonding with babies, but it provides information on bonding with your child all the way until the age of three years old. 

• When the child is between birth and 12 months old, some things the parents can do are provide responsive care, support babies' developing skills, and provide affection and security.

• When the child is between 12 to 24 months, parents can help the young toddler's problem solving skills, praise the process and not just the result, and help children learn to resolve conflict in a healthy way.

• When the child is between 24 to 36 months, parents can help their toddler understand their feelings, encourage early friendships, use language to describe feelings and experiences, and explain reasons for limits and requests.

Plumb - In My Arms

Your baby blues
So full of wonder
Your curly cues
Your contagious smile
And as I watch
You start to grow up
All I can do is hold you tight 

Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around                                                          
But you will be safe in my arms 

Story books full of fairy tales
Of kings and queens and the bluest skies
My heart is torn just in knowing
You'll someday see the truth from lies 

Knowing clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms 

Castles they might crumble
Dreams may not come true
But you are never all alone
Because I will always
Always love you

Clouds will rage
And storms will race in
But you will be safe in my arms
Rains will pour down
Waves will crash all around
But you will be safe in my arms

Link to Video: Circle of Security: Baby Bonding

I chose this video because the researchers at Marycliff Institute and the University of Virginia have provided more insight on baby bonding. The video mentions that 40-50% of parents raise insecurely attached children according to research in parent-child attachment.

The video also talks about a scientific experiment that is performed called "The Strange Situation". This tests the security or insecurity of the child, by placing the child in unique scenarios to activate anxiety over a 20 minute period. This reveals the level of attachment that the child has to the parent.

Attachment Parenting International

Works Cited:

Picture 1: Social and Emotional Development of Infants and Toddlers Heading

http://www.locatetv.com/tv/social-and-emotional-development-of-infants-and-toddlers/5896390

Picture 2: Baby Boy

http://www.snugbabyshop.co.uk/news/caring-for-your-baby/baby-massage-benefits/

Picture 3: Solid Attachment Quote

http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/modelprograms/NFP.html

Picture 4: Attachment Theory Quote
http://www.positive-parenting-ally.com/insecure-attachment.html 

Song:  Plumb - "In My Arms"
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/In-My-Arms-lyrics-Plumb/D17A2A4B8AC5C41A48257376000B4E94
 

Picture 5: Baby asleep in mother's arms

http://www.soulprintsphotography.com/

Video: Circle of Security: Baby Bonding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH1CbC4No24

Picture 6: Attachment Parenting International
http://www.orgsites.com/tn/twincitiesapi/index.html