Parenting Infants and Toddlers

I. Infant/toddler development and parenting

A. Physical Development

1) Newborns  

2) Brain Development

• Synaptogenesis

• synaptic pruning

• Increased myelination

3) Motor skills

 

 

 

• Locomotion

4) Parenting issues related to physical development

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B.  Intellectual development

• Parenting issues related to intellectual development

C.  Emotional Development

1) Emotional expression/regulation

2) Temperament

 a) Thomas and Chess - easy, difficult, slow-to-warm-up

b) important dimensions of temperament

• surgency (high activity, high intensity pleasure),

• effortful control (focus, sustained attention),

• negative emotionality

• differential susceptibility

3) Parenting issues related to emotional development

D. Social Development

1) Attachment

• Secure Attachment (Bowlby)

• Promoting secure attachment (Caregiving quality)

• multiple attachments

2) Self control

• Voluntary control/compliance in the second year of life.

3) Parenting issues related to social development

II. Special Concerns for Parents of Infants and Toddlers

A. Crying and Sleeping

B. Promoting Self-regulation

C. Safety

D. Establishing rules and routines (“structuring”)

III. Challenges for Parents of Young Children

A.   Depression/mental illness

B. Substance abuse

C. Prematurity/Health 

D. Day Care