Self-regulation has been identified as having a critical, foundational role in the overall well-being of individuals from infancy into adulthood. We have come to understand that self-regulation is crucial for learning, language development, social, emotional, and physical health. What most people don’t realize is that development of self-regulation begins in early infancy. From the moment of birth infants must learn to regulate physiology that was naturally supported in the womb by the mother’s body or synchronized with the mother’s body. Regulating to the new environment outside of the womb is deeply connected to the infant’s support from and interaction with caregivers. Early regulatory tasks of the infant include everything from maintaining a normal body temperature to make behavioral adjustments to conform to the day-night rhythm, learning to soothe and settle once caregivers meet basic needs. It also includes the ability to attend, observe and process and make sense of an ever-changing variety of stimuli from the environment. Later, it means developing the capacity to manage strong emotions constructively and keep one's attention focused, to organize and strategize. As previously mentioned, self-regulation development in the earliest stages is dependent on the caregiver’s provision of a predictable, responsive, and supportive environments.
While regulation skills are closely intertwined across all areas of development and are only a portion of the developmental scaffolding, this installment will discuss early skills in sensory regulation, cognition (exploration, attention, memory, problem solving), social-emotional and communication development beginning from birth to three months of age. It is important to appreciate how skills in these areas are the building blocks for later speech and language development.
By three months of age an infant should demonstrate the following skills:
Regulatory/Sensory Organization
Calms when picked up, then starts to self-calm through hands in mouth or moving self.
Enjoys and attends to a wide range of sounds.
Enjoys and needs a great deal of physical contact and tactile stimulation.
Molds and relaxes body when held; cuddles (shapes body to “fit” adult.)
Sleep nights four- to ten-hour intervals and naps frequently.
Cognition:
Begins playing with rattle, holds, looks at, explore by mouthing.
Responds to sounds (startles, eyes widening, etc) by one month of age then by three months will begin to smile in response to voices. Expressions brightens or becomes intent; looks at speaker, slowly turns towards voices, quiets, stops or increases sucking.
Looks at hands, can look back and forth between two objects just in front of him/her.
Repeats a newly learned activity.
Social/Emotional:
Relaxes, smiles, vocalizes or looks at caregiver to establish contact.
Establishes eye contact for several seconds at a time.
Draws attention to self when in distress by crying/fussing and looking towards caregiver to attract attention.
Begin to respond with a smile when socially approached.
Shows anticipatory excitement (e.g. excited to see bottle) kicks legs and body is excited.
Communication:
Watches speaker’s eyes and mouth.
Shows an active interest in objects and people for at least 30 seconds, the beginning of “communicative readiness” by using gaze and body position to maintain interactions with person/object. Enjoys social play.
If you have any concerns about your child you can discuss these with your child's pediatrician. You have more questions about your child's development or speech-language therapy? Click the "Get in Touch" button above.
- Stephanie Peterson, M.A., CCC-SLP, ASDCS
References:
Hawaii Early Learning Profile, ages birth-3 years, published by VORT Corporation.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to Adolescence.
National Library of Medicine: From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000. Acquiring Self Regulation
Comments