Page 4 - LESSION 7.pmd

Domains of Development

Have you experienced any changes in the way you express the following
emotions? Please write the changes.

Notes Anger: .........................................................................................................

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Fear: .........................................................................................................

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Sadness:.........................................................................................................

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Do you recall how you used to show your love or anger towards your parents
when you were five years old ? How do you express the same feelings now? Can
you notice any transition in expressing the same emotions towards your parents?
This brings us to the point that expression of emotions and behaviours related to
them evolve over time. Some of these changes may be a result of our own
emotional maturity and exposure to the surroundings.

Cultural differences in the expression of emotions may also exist as each culture
teaches its children to show their emotions in a different manner. Gender
differences in expression of different emotions might also vary.

7.1.2.1 Socio-emotional development at different stages

z Infancy

Infants interact with people around them by smiling, crying, babbling and cooing.
All these initiate and sustain the infant’s interaction with others. When an infant
receives positive response and stimulation from others in the environment, s/he is
encouraged to develop socially. By the age of six to eight months, infants learn
to develop a sense of belongingness and begin to develop attachment with parents
and other familiar persons in their world. It is seen that infants feel stranger anxiety,
i.e., fear of being separated from their primary caregiver when they complete the
first year of their life. This anxiety decreases gradually and children develop special
attachments. By the age of two years, children begin to detach a little from their
parents and learn to show autonomy by saying ‘no’ to what they do not want to
do.

z Early Childhood
Children develop self-awareness by the age of two to five years. They develop
attitudes, likes and dislikes and ways of acting. Socialisation is the process by
which children acquire skills to become responsible adults in their society.
Children are socialised primarily by parents who make children understand and

92 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION