Understanding Infants
and Toddlers' Development
Physical, Emotional, and Social Foundations
Objectives:
At the end of this discussion, students should
be able to:
a. Describe the influence of brain
development on the growth of motor skills;
b. Describe emotional development in young
children;
c. Define temperament and resiliency and
discuss the significance of research related
to the two concepts;
d. Describe social development in infants
and toddlers; and
e. Identify influences on the development of
gender identity.
Stages of
Development
Infancy and toddlerhood are critical stages
of development, marked by rapid physical,
emotional, and social changes.
Understanding these stages provides
insight into how early experiences shape a
child's overall growth and lifelong
development.
Physical and
Motor Skills
Development
The first few years of life—particularly from birth to age three—are a
period of explosive brain development. During this stage, the brain is
forming new neural connections at an astonishing rate: up to 1 million
new neural connections every second.
Brain Development and Motor Skills
🔹 The Brain Triples in Size
At birth, a baby’s brain is about 25% the size of an adult
brain.
By the age of 3, it grows to about 80% of its adult volume.
This growth supports increasingly complex functions,
including motor control.
🔹 Motor Cortex and Cerebellum
The motor cortex is the part of the brain responsible for
planning and executing movement. As it develops, the infant
begins to perform more intentional movements (e.g.,
reaching for a toy).
The cerebellum helps with balance and coordination—
essential for walking and running later in toddlerhood.
🔹 Myelination
Myelin is a fatty substance that coats neurons, making it
easier for signals to travel between the brain and the
muscles.
This process of myelination is critical for smooth, quick, and
coordinated movements.
As myelination increases, babies can transition from jerky,
reflexive motions to smoother, goal-directed actions.
Gross Motor vs. 🔸 Fine Motor Skills
Fine Motor Skills These use smaller muscle groups,
especially in the hands and fingers.
These include:
Motor development is typically Grasping objects
categorized into two areas: Stacking blocks
Turning book pages
🔸 Gross Motor Skills Using utensils
Drawing and scribbling
These involve the large muscles of
the body and control whole-body
movements, such as:
Rolling over
Crawling
Standing
Walking
Climbing
Developmental
Milestones
(According to WHO and CDC)
Here’s how typical physical and motor development unfolds:
Age Milestone
6 months Rolls over, begins sitting with support
9 months Crawls, can pick up small objects with fingers
Walks with assistance, uses pincer grasp (thumb
12 months
and index finger)
Walks independently, scribbles, uses spoon with
18 months
help
Runs, kicks a ball, stacks 4-6 blocks, feeds self with
24 months
spoon
🧩 Interconnectedness
of Brain and Movement
Motor skills don’t develop in
isolation—they’re influenced by:
Brain maturity and connectivity
Nutrition (e.g., lack of iron can slow brain and motor
development)
Environment and stimulation (opportunities for
movement)
Caregiver interaction (encouragement, physical safety,
hands-on support)
Socio-Emotional Development and
Interaction
Emotional Development in Young
Children
What is Emotional Development?
Emotional development refers to the process by which young children
begin to:
Recognize, express, and manage their own feelings.
Understand the emotions of others.
Develop empathy, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
Stages of
Emotional
Development
Emotions emerge gradually, in predictable
stages, though the pace can vary by child.
Stages of Emotional Development
🔹 Newborns (0–3 months)
Express basic emotional states through crying, cooing, and facial expressions.
Begin to experience pleasure and distress.
Rely entirely on caregivers to soothe them when upset.
🔹 Infants (3–12 months)
Start to show specific emotions like joy, anger, sadness, and fear.
Social smiles emerge at around 6–8 weeks.
Begin social referencing—looking to caregivers for cues on how to respond to
new situations (e.g., a stranger or loud noise).
🔹 Toddlers (1–3 years)
Emotions become more complex: embarrassment, shame, pride, guilt, and
empathy begin to surface.
May struggle with emotional regulation (leading to tantrums or outbursts).
Start to use words to express feelings (e.g., “I’m mad!” or “No!”).
Attachment and Its
Impact on Emotional
Development
📚 Attachment Theory (Bowlby & Ainsworth)
Attachment is the emotional bond between a
child and a caregiver.
The quality of attachment affects the child’s
ability to:
Feel secure and explore the world.
Trust others and seek help.
Regulate stress and emotions.
✅ Secure Attachment
Formed when caregivers are sensitive,
responsive, and consistent.
Leads to children who:
Feel safe and confident.
They are better able to soothe themselves.
Show empathy and cooperation.
⚠️ Insecure Attachment
Forms when caregiving is inconsistent,
unresponsive, or neglectful.
May lead to:
Difficulty trusting others.
Anxiety or aggression.
Trouble regulating emotions.
Emotional Regulation in Early Childhood
It includes skills like:
Soothing oneself when upset.
Delaying gratification (e.g., waiting for
a turn).
Expressing needs appropriately (e.g.,
using words instead of hitting).
🔑 Key Supports:
Modeling: Adults show how to express
emotions calmly.
Naming feelings: “You look frustrated—
do you want help?”
Creating routines: Predictable routines
make children feel secure.
Examples in Real Life
Age Emotional Behavior Adult Response
1 year Cries when caregiver leaves Offer comfort; reassure return
18 months Hits another child when angry Guide to express anger with words
2 years Says “mine!” and refuses to share Teach turn-taking and empathy
Why is Emotional
Development Important?
Children who develop emotional skills early are
more likely to:
Succeed in school
Form positive relationships
Cope with stress in healthy ways
Emotional development is closely tied to:
Cognitive development (thinking and problem-
solving)
Social development (friendships and peer
interactions)
Temperament and Resiliency
What is Temperament?
Temperament refers to the innate traits that determine how children react
to the world around them. These traits are biologically based and evident
from birth, influencing:
Activity levels
Attention span
Sensitivity to stimuli
Adaptability
Mood (positive vs. negative emotionality)
📊 Thomas and Chess’ 3 Classic Temperament Types:
Type Characteristics
Adaptable, happy, regular routines, positive
Easy
mood
Intense reactions, irregular routines, slow to
Difficult
adapt
Low activity level, withdraws from new
Slow-to-warm-up
situations, cautious
What is Resiliency?
Resiliency is a child’s ability to recover from difficulties, cope
with stress, and adapt to change or adversity.
Resilient children can:
Manage emotions effectively
Solve problems
Maintain hope and perseverance
Form positive relationships
Factors that Promote Resilience:
Secure relationships with at least one caring adult (e.g., parent,
teacher, caregiver)
A supportive environment that encourages autonomy and safety
Opportunities to make choices and learn from failure
Emotional coaching—helping children label and manage their
feelings
🧪 Research Evidence:
Children with strong adult bonds show better emotional health and
academic success, even in high-risk environments.
Resiliency is not fixed—it can be developed and strengthened
through consistent support and modeling.
Why This Matters in Early Childhood Settings:
Knowing a child's temperament helps teachers adjust their
expectations and avoid mislabeling behaviors (e.g., “defiant” when
the child is slow to warm up).
Promoting resilience helps children handle transitions, peer conflicts,
separation anxiety, and more.
Social Development in Infants and Toddlers
Early Social Development Starts with Attachment
Social development begins in the first days of life,
through bonding between caregiver and infant.
Positive interactions (smiling, talking, eye contact)
promote trust and emotional safety.
From Bonding to Interaction
🔹 Joint Attention
Around 9–12 months, infants begin to follow another’s gaze or point,
focusing on the same object.
This shared attention supports language learning and social
understanding.
🔹 Imitation
Toddlers learn by copying facial expressions, actions, and language.
Imitation is one of the earliest forms of social learning.
🔹 Parallel Play (2–3 years old)
Children play side by side, not yet interacting directly but observing and
learning from peers.
This is a precursor to cooperative play.
Prosocial Behavior and Empathy
Toddlers begin to:
Show empathy (comfort a crying peer)
Share and take turns (with adult support)
Follow simple group routines
These behaviors are nurtured by:
Modeling kindness and sharing
Verbalizing feelings (“You look sad—can I help you?”)
Guided peer interaction
Development of Gender Identity
What is Gender Identity?
Gender identity refers to a person’s internal
understanding of their gender—whether they see
themselves as male, female, both, or neither.
When Does It Develop?
By around age 2, children can begin to label
themselves and others as “boy” or “girl.”
By age 3, children may show gender-typed
preferences (e.g., toys, clothes, roles).
Gender identity continues to evolve into later childhood
and adolescence.
Influences on Gender Identity
🔹 Family Language and Modeling
Children learn gender norms through daily interactions.
Who cooks, who fixes things, who leads—these roles are powerful
models.
🔹 Media and Books
Stories and cartoons often reinforce gender stereotypes (e.g.,
princesses in pink, superheroes as boys).
Exposure to diverse characters and roles broadens children’s
understanding.
🔹 Culture and Community
Cultural norms shape what behaviors and expressions are
considered “appropriate” for each gender.
Encouraging Healthy Gender Development
Allow freedom of expression: let children explore toys, clothes, and
roles that interest them.
Avoid phrases like “That’s only for boys/girls.”
Provide materials and stories that challenge stereotypes.
💡 Educators and families play a vital role in:
Creating safe and inclusive spaces.
Promoting respect for individual differences.
Teaching children that everyone can explore, belong, and be
accepted.
Understanding these aspects of infant and toddler
development—temperament, resiliency, social
development, and gender identity—helps educators and
caregivers:
Respond sensitively to each child’s unique traits.
Foster inclusive and supportive environments.
Lay the foundation for confident, emotionally secure,
and socially responsible individuals.
