| Abstract: | Summary Social and emotional development begins from the moment of birth. Remarkably, infants are able to engage with their social
world, particularly their parents and family. They start to establish a secure attachment with their primary caregivers who
provide not only nurturance but guidance. A sense of security facilitates infants' exploration of their physical and social
world. They demonstrate selective preferences—they prefer to look at faces and listen to voices—that reflect their genetically
programmed disposition. Infants are able to express their emotions and recognize the emotional expressions of others. The
development of basic human attributes emerge in the first few weeks and months of life. Caring, loving adults play such a
critical role in providing learning opportunities to interact with others and express their emotions in an appropriate manner.
Adults shape the quality of experiences that infants encounter and provide the basic building blocks of trust that support
further development later in life. |
