Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
The early years of a child’s life are critically important for learning and development as the early years are among the most sensitive periods for brain development. Social and emotional development begins at birth with infants building attachments and trust with their caregivers, learning how to calm themselves, and later, recognizing emotions in themselves and others. Making friends. Waiting patiently. Caring for others. Resolving conflicts peacefully. Controlling emotions. Following the rules. These are all examples of social and emotional skills that children must learn gradually over time – with the support of caring adults.
Providers (childcare and education, health care, home visitors or others), play an essential role in the healthy social and emotional development of the children in their care. Parents trust professionals to provide compassionate care for their children. Part of this role is to ensure parents who have concerns about their child’s social and emotional development receive referrals to appropriate interventions.
Instead of viewing challenging behaviors simply as a disruption, providers should be aware that these behaviors often are the result of social and emotional factors and represent a teaching opportunity (for both the parent and the child), which can be effectively addressed within the home and through external support programs that are available in our community.
