SED of Infant and Toddler

• Speaker: ''To understand; or to master one's own emotion is to relate to others''
• The first 3 years are considered the formative years
• Infant and Toddler age ranges

  • Infant: 0-12 Months
  • Toddler: 12-36 Months
• Parents & Other Caregivers play a significant role in socio-emotional development of infants and toddlers
• Elements of Socio-Emotional Development in Infant & Toddler

  • Attachment
  • Temperament
• Speaker: ''Beginning of attachment occurs within the first 6 months of a baby's life''
• Babies in attachment stage communicate through

  • Crying, smiling, gazing, etc.
• Responsive Interaction (RI)


  • Key to a good start in social development
• Feeding is not central to emotional well-being, but consistent involvement of caregivers is
• Healthy Socio-Emotional Development


  • Establishing an enduring emotional bond characterized by a tendency to seek and maintain closeness to a specific person
• Temperament


  Emotional disposition or mood pattern of how someone reacts to the world
• Temperaments


  Personality traits of an infant & toddler
• Temperament Categories

  • Activity Level
  • Mood
  • Threshold for Distress
  • Rhythmicity
  • Intensity of Response
  • Approach-Withdrawal
  • Distractability
  • Adaptability
  • Persistence
• Observing child using the 9 temperament categories

  Collecting and gathering data to determine their types
• Relating to Erik Erikson Psychosocial Development of Infancy in Trust vs Mistrust

  Central question: 'Can I trust the world'
• Children with good attachment relationships make better adjustments in future life
• Family contributes more to child's social and cognitive wellbeing than child care arrangements
• Parents and caregivers help children regulate their emotions


  By working with them and serving as their models
• In order to develop a favorable child with healthy attachment relationship, a child needs to be treated sensitively and responsively
• Types of children based on temperament

  • Easy Child (40%)
  • Difficult Child (10%)
  • Third type not specified
• Types of children

  • Easy Child
  • Difficult Child
  • Slow-to-Warm-Up Child
• Easy Child


  • Readily established regular routines
  • Generally cheerful
  • Adapts readily to new experiences
• Difficult Child

  • Irregular in daily routines
  • Slow to accept new experiences
  • Tends to react negatively and intensely
• Slow-to-Warm-Up Child

  • Shows mild and lowkey reactions to environmental changes
  • Negative in mood
  • Adjusts slowly to new experiences
• About 40% of children do not fit into any category, instead they have a combination of these qualities
• Temperament Categories

  • Activity Level
  • Mood
  • Threshold for Distress
  • Rhythmicity
  • Intensity of Response
  • Approach-Withdrawal
  • Distractibility
  • Adaptability
  • Persistence
• What Infants and Toddlers can do (Emotional & Social Aspect)

  1. DOMAIN: Social and Emotional Development

  2. SUB-DOMAIN: 7 SUB-DOMAIN (2 for Emotional, 4 for Social)

  3. EMOTIONAL ASPECT

  4. Sub Domain: Emotional Expression

  5. express different basic emotions

  6. ability to self-regulate feelings/emotions

  7. comprehend and display self-appraisal emotions (Shame, Pride, and Guilt)

  8. Sub Domain: Receptivity to Other's Emotion

  9. child is receptive to the different emotions of others

  10. show empathy
• Important things to remember in the Development of Emotion

  1. Early Infancy (birth-6 months): Social smile emerges, pleasure-indicative actions and sounds, cooing, mouthing

  2. Later Infancy (7-12 months): Expression of fear, disgust, anger due to maturation of cognitive abilities, Separation Anxiety, Stranger Anxiety, Social Referencing

  3. Toddlerhood years (1-3 Years): Expression of shame or embarrassment, development of skills to regulate emotions with the emergence of language, development of empathy
• In infancy, children largely rely on adults to help them regulate their emotional states
• The socio-emotional development of an infant and toddler begins within themselves and then extends to others, starting with Intra-personal development (self-awareness, self-management, self-motivation) and then progressing to Inter-personal development (relationship management, empathy)
• Food for thought: 'The journey of socio-emotional development in a child is a profound and transformative process, shaping the foundation for a future filled with meaningful connections, resilience in the face of challenges, and the ability to navigate the intricate weaves of human relationships. As we invest in nurturing these essential skills, we not only lay the groundwork for academic success but also foster individuals who are compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and well-equipped to lead fulfilling lives. Remember, the seeds we plant today in the fertile soil of socio-emotional growth will blossom into the vibrant garden of a harmonious and thriving community tomorrow. (Kung ano ang itinanim, yun ang aanihin)'
• Sub-Domain: Basic Emotions


  • Express different basic emotions
  • Ability to self-regulate feelings/emotions
  • Comprehend and display self-appraisal emotions (Shame, Pride, Guilt)
• Sub-Domain: Receptivity to Other's Emotion

  • Child is receptive to the different emotions of others
  • Show empathy
• Sub-Domain: Emerging Sense of Self


  • Expresses knowledge of self and basic role of people in his/her immediate environment
• Sub-Domain: Forming Attachment

  • Forms healthy attachment to primary caregivers and other significant adults
• Sub-Domain: Interaction with Others (Adult)


  • Child plays and has positive relation and interaction with adults
• Sub-Domain: Pakikiramdam or Sensitivity


  • Child takes social cues from environment and adjusts his behavior accordingly
• Sub-Domain: Appreciating Diversity


  • Child recognizes and respects similarities and differences in people, language, culture