Loving, warm, responsive care is a basic need and cornerstone for a child’s healthy development. This is done through spending time with focused attention on young children during different stages of development.

With infants, emotional development begins with trust and strong sense of security as parents, family and caregivers show they care. This is expressed by holding, rocking, talking and feeding an infant. What develops is a healthy bond between the baby and family or caregiver.

As infants progress up to toddlerhood, “independence” is the title for this stage of development. They are becoming “their own little person.” One word that toddlers love to say is “no.” Parents and teachers really learn what patience is.

Older preschoolers, ages 3 through 5, need an environment where they can explore to develop their curiosity needs, be creative, and to learn to play with other children. 

Part of being emotionally available to your child requires a parent or caregiver to set boundaries. Young children need clear lines of rules and what to expect. For a young child, to know what to expect builds their security. Parents, teachers and childcare givers need to decide on reasonable, developmentally appropriate boundaries. If a young child is in a preschool, school or day care situation, parents should learn what the boundaries are in these places.

What does the teacher or caregiver expect of your child? What are the boundaries in the classroom or place of care? Parents, work hand-in-hand with your child’s teacher or caregiver so you can help your child feel secure in adjusting to boundaries set in a school or childcare situation. Young children learn and grow when there is a routine and consistency; they know what to expect each day. Also, young children need words and actions of encouragement in order to learn, grow and believe and know how special they are.

Not every day is going to be a “happy day” but we can help and show our young children how to handle stress, sad times, anger and frustration.

In order to build good emotional habits in kids’ young lives try the following three tips:

*Before reacting, step back and really listen to your young child.

*Spend time with your young child.  Celebrate their lives by playing, getting away to a park, etc., or just a walk to talk.

*Guide your young child to have a “fix-it” solution when things aren’t going well.

Beth Pinyerd lives in Daphne and serves as director of younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort.

Her column appears every other week in the Daphne Bulletin and Spanish Fort Sun.