Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/minimizing-the-effects-of-chronic-stress-on-infants-and-toddlers/5021752/
For decades research has demonstrated the importance of early relationships and experiences on the healthy development of infants and toddlers. More recently, neuroscience has allowed us to see the impact of positive, nurturing experiences on brain development. The benefits of consistently warm, responsive, and stimulating interactions follow young children and benefit them throughout their lives. Through their relationships with children and families, professionals who work with infants and toddlers can help provide experiences that will put them on track for success in school and life. Growing and supporting these relationships is, in fact, the most important part of the job.When parents and caregivers provide stable and nurturing relationships they are promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (I-ECMH), which is the term used to discuss social and emotional development in children under the age of three. I-ECMH is also the term given to a growing field of research and practice devoted to the prevention and treatment of mental health problems in young children. The field of I-ECMH approaches social and emotional health in the context of families and promotes the notion that development occurs within the context of relationships. It is through this lens that we are now beginning to ...