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API of East Portland, Oregon: Philosophy |
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Respond with Sensitivity:
You can build the
foundation of trust and empathy by understanding and responding appropriately
to your infant's needs. Babies communicate their needs in many ways including
body movements, facial expressions, and crying. They learn to trust when
their needs are consistently responded to with sensitivity. Building a strong
attachment with a baby involves not only responding consistently to his
physical needs, but spending enjoyable time interacting with him and thus
meeting his emotional needs as well. There are many
societal challenges that can interfere with parents' ability to develop a
responsive relationship with their babies. For example, parents may encounter
myths about spoiling a baby or unsolicited advice from well-meaning family,
friends and media. Advice that conflicts with science, facts about normal
development, or a parent's own intuitive feelings can cause stress for the
parent who must decide how to respond. In the course of
normal child development, babies form primary attachments with the person or
people who spend the majority of time nurturing and caring for them --
usually the mother and/or father. Frequent holding and interactions with baby
increase bonding and promote secure attachment. In the first six months or so
your baby may seem happy being held by or interacting with other people. Then
at eight to nine months of age, many babies will suddenly begin to show fear
and anxiety about being separated from their mother. This, too, is a normal
phase. Babies and
children require empathy and respect for their feelings to help them learn to
feel safe and secure. Intense fears of separation will naturally subside as
the child matures. It may take considerably longer for more sensitive
children to be comfortable in the care of non-parental adults. Follow the
child's cues and do not force children to accept strangers or expect them to
overcome stranger/separation anxiety before they're ready. Needs and the Benefits of Responding with
Sensitivity Babies' brains
are immature and significantly underdeveloped at birth, and they are unable
to soothe themselves Through the
consistent, repeated responsiveness of a compassionate adult, children learn
to soothe themselves Some babies and
children appear more sensitive to the environment and stimulation Understand your
child's natural inner rhythms, and try to schedule around them It is perfectly
normal for babies to want constant physical contact High levels of
stress, such as during prolonged crying, cause a baby to experience an
unbalanced chemical state in the brain and can place him at risk for physical
and emotional problems later in life Symptoms of
burnout or inability to cope with baby's needs are signals that extra support
and/or professional help are necessary Responding to Tantrums and Strong Emotions Tantrums
represent real emotions and as such should be taken seriously Some emotions are
too powerful for a young child's underdeveloped brain to manage in a more
socially acceptable manner A parent's role
in tantrums is to comfort the child, not to get angry or punish her Responding to the Older Child Continue to
nurture a close connection by respecting the child's feelings and trying to understand
the needs underlying his outward behaviors Support
explorations by providing a safe environment for discovery and remaining
close by Show interest in
the child's activities and participate enthusiastically in child-directed
play Some children
enjoy “preschool” or other programs where parents are not included, but they
are not necessary for child development. Consider the child's readiness to
separate and the amount and type of support provided by adults. |
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For further information about the group, please contact the Group Leader, Sara. |
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