What Are the Needs of Infants
1979; National Association for the Education of Young Children; Volume: 37; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
0044-0728
Autores Tópico(s)Themes in Literature Analysis
Resumochildren, in contrast to the casual learning that naturally occurred in home care ... it was clear that physical contact between toddler and caregiver was minimal (p. 43). Thus, the caregiver, busy with a daily schedule, may tend to disregard the primary needs of infants for physical cuddling, holding, and touching. Infant reactions to adult respect are sometimes extraordinary. Once as a consultant in an infant care setting, I was sitting beside a 7-month-old. He rocked and sucked on a piece of a plastic toy. I looked in vain for a nearby toy that he could shake or use in more interesting play. As I got up from the floor to go search for a rattle in a toy box at the far end of the room, Jason burst into tears. Immediately aware of my ungracious action, I turned and faced him. Jason, are you crying because you thought I was getting up to leave you? I am so sorry. I was just going over to the toy box to see if I can find you a more interesting toy to play with. I promise you that I shall be right back. The child looked at me and immediately stopped wailing. Later, most of the day care workers (for whom this modeling was part of their training program) admitted they thought I had been a bit crazy to talk so seriously to a baby. Yet babies need validation of their good selves and their right to human courtesies and consideration.
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