Acknowledgements - gapitc

Babies are beginning to learn that they are separate from adults and to explore the
question “Who am I?” They need adults to respond to them in positive ways to feel
good about who they are and who they can become.
Celebrate your infant’s new skills. When you write on the calendar or take a photograph
in the above activities, be sure to let your baby know she has done something
special! Let her hear the excitement in your voice when you say, “You crawled to
get the stuffed turtle, Maria Elena!”
Infants look to adults for approval and reassurance. Smiles, claps, and words of support
help them feel positive about their accomplishments.
Encourage your baby when he tries to do things. “Aidan, you tried to put the ball
in the bucket. Can you try again?” Infants need to try many times before learning
a new skill. When you see your child getting frustrated with a task, break it down
into smaller steps so he can be successful one step at a time. The process of trying
is as important as succeeding at a task.
Encourage your infant to “stretch” his abilities. When he has learned a skill, encourage
him to try something a little more difficult.
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