Recognise and respect your baby's feelings. Talk about what they may be experiencing or expressing. For example, you can say, "You look happy when you smile!" when you see your baby smiling. New Jersey Council for Young Children. (2013). New Jersey Birth to Three Early Learning Standards. Retrieved from: https://www.nj.gov/education/ece/guide/standards/birth/standards.pdf Lally, J. R., & Mangione, P. (2006). The uniqueness of infancy demands a responsive approach to care. Young Children, 61(4), 14–20.
Adult caregivers’ responses to babies play a crucial role in how they perceive themselves. Responsive care that considers the baby's needs and interests creates a positive sense of self. When babies have nurturing and warm relationships with regular caregivers, they develop a more positive sense of self. A positive sense of self ensures that babies will relate to people in a more socially secure manner.
Young children develop a sense of self during interactions with others through moment-by-moment experiences of emotional communication. Babies learn about themselves as they learn about the feelings of others. Hence, increased opportunity to engage in cooperative social interaction and exposure to talk about mental states facilitates babies’ development of social understanding.