{"id":324,"date":"2011-10-06T10:06:18","date_gmt":"2011-10-06T16:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/bd-2-2-nurturing\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T15:22:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T15:22:29","slug":"bd-2-2-nurturing-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/content.scienceofecd.com\/third-edition\/bd-2-2-nurturing-2\/","title":{"rendered":"BD 2.2 Nurturing"},"content":{"rendered":"
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photographer: Krista Anderson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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An increasing number of more recent studies, utilizing brain imaging and other new technologies, now document the impact of nurturing, supportive interaction and ‘sensitive caregiving’ on both brain function and structure” (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2019, para. 2).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

To really think about babies and how they develop, we have to think about who is taking care of them and the nature of the relationship(s). In the overview of this module, Dr. Stuart Shanker explained infants are “fetuses outside the womb” for the first nine months, completely dependent on caregivers for survival. We have also learned about the interactive nature of genetics and experience in determining how development unfolds. Clearly, the caregiver-child relationship is absolutely critical to early brain development and key to the child’s survival, health and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next KidCareCanada video is an interview with Dr. Nils Bergman, a Swedish public health physician who has studied and worked in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He is perhaps best known as one of the founders of the Kangaroo Mother Care movement that promotes skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their newborns.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n VIEW<\/span>\n Social and Emotional Intelligence of Infants<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"Adult<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

First and foremost, the physical and social environments young children experience are created and then mediated in relationships with adults who care for them. Before birth, the growing infant is sensitive to, and entirely dependent on, the uterine environment. After birth, infants remain dependent on adults for sustenance, physical care and love. Early caring relationships are a filter for experiences that drive the development of neural pathways involved in sensory perception, stress response patterns, self-regulation, language and intellectual abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child reading that follows compares parent-baby interaction to the “serve and return” (or back and forth) aspect of a tennis match. This refers to the way a baby makes vocalizations and gestures that encourage adults to respond back in a similar way. This type of interaction supports healthy brain development. Be sure to read the section entitled “What Science Tells Us”.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n READ<\/span>Young children develop in an environment of relationships<\/span><\/span> \n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

In the next video, notice the connection between mother and baby.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n VIEW<\/span>Scene: Mom and newborn (4:05)<\/span> \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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