Very young children rely on parents and caregivers to help them understand our world, and to provide them with the experiences and information that help their brains grow. This is true whether a child is learning how to read and write, or how to get along with others and manage their feelings. When parents and caregivers respond to their children’s needs from birth with sensitivity and nurturing, they strengthen children’s early learning and provide a strong foundation for better health and well-being throughout life.
One aspect of early learning that is less understood than other types of learning—but equally important—is social-emotional development. Children with strong social-emotional skills are more interested in all types of learning, form healthier relationships with others, persist longer at difficult tasks, and can better control their emotions. Social-emotional development is an aspect of typical brain development that depends both on genetics and children’s early experiences, including support from parents and caregivers. The more nurturing and loving support a child receives from a parent or caregiver during activities like talking, reading, and singing, the better developed that child’s social-emotional skills.
[For more of this story go to http://toosmall.org/social-emo...elopment-white-paper]
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