Responsive Caregiving
. . . Listening with ears, eyes, & hearts
Excepts from www.zerotothree.org
Your sensitive, responsive caregiving and interactions with your baby are more important to development than any toy. It takes patience and practice to learn to read your baby’s signals. Below are some samples. You can use it to identify typical behaviors you might observe at different stages in your child’s early development. You can adapt these responses based on what you know about the child’s temperament.
| WHEN YOUR CHILD… |
YOUR CHILD MIGHT BE SAYING… |
WHAT YOU CAN DO: |
|
Birth to 8 Months |
Cries or clings to you when a new person approaches. |
I do not know this person. I do not know what to expect from her, and that scares me. |
· Give your child the space and time-in your arms or on your lap-to get used to new people· Urge others to approach slowly. Have them break the ice by offering an interesting object. |
8 to 18 Months |
Points to something and then looks over to share her discovery with you. |
Look at what I discovered. I want to seeit or smell it or hold it. Can you get it for me so I can touch it, smell it, taste it? |
· Talk about her discoveries and lift her to see, smell, or touch them. · If it’s safe, offer her the object to explore. |
| 18 Months to 3 Years: Your Young Explorer  |
Has trouble knowing when to stop |
I can’t always put the brakes on when I’m having a great time. Sometimes the things I’m doing are so-o-o exciting. With your help I’ll learn about self control, but don’t expect it to happen overnight. |
· Establish clear rules and stick to them: “Balls are for outside.” “All food and drinks at the table.” Expect that he’ll need reminders. · Always acknowledge when he shows selfcontrol: “You remembered to bring your milk to the table. Good job” |
