When I think of research child development, I usually consider the works of Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotski, Urie Bronnfenbrenner, and Albert Bandura among others. I think of those findings that have helped shape our view of the ways children develop and learn. Research can be a way to stay involved and informed about current trends and issues in the field. And often, research offers new paradigms on issues we have neglected, afraid to think about or just choose to suspend our judgments on. As an infant toddler program director, I know that there is much more to infants than cuteness and delight. From observing infants and toddlers day in and out, and the hundreds of infants who have completed our program, I have seen firsthand how capable, smart, and eager to learn they are. I came across a study that fascinated me and validated my views on the social nature of infants and toddlers. The study was conducted by Hamlin, J. K., Wynn, K., & bloom, P. (2007). Social evaluation by preverbal infants. Nature , 450, 557-559. This was one of the research findings that made me what to stand on a podium yelling I told you that. Hamlin, Wynn, & bloom, (2007) found that infants as young as 6 months could assess the behaviors of people towards others to decide whether that person was appealing or aversive. This is a group of 16 10-month-old and 12 six-month-old children who “prefer an individual who helps another to one who hinders another, prefer a helping individual to a neutral individual, and prefer a neutral individual to a hindering individual (Hamlin, Wynn, & bloom, 2007, p. 557) . Children do not just prefer and learn from those they know. Additionally, they also judge us both from our superficial (race, facial attractiveness, smiles) and our behaviors (the way we treat others, how helpful and kind to others we are, how compassionate we are). I am also fascinating by these research findings because know that infants and toddlers are brilliant and it is high time we gave them the credit they deserve.
Reference
Hamlin, J. K., Wynn, K., & bloom, P. (2007). Social evaluation by preverbal infants. Nature , 450, 557-559 .
Nar you are so right. Infants are definitely deserving of more credit than they get. One thing I think about when I read your post was how everyone wants to talk baby talk to the children! That drives me nuts! They are learning language, so talk to them normally. It OK to use a soft pleasant tone, but for goodness sakes, please talk normally to them! Thanks for the interesting post.
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ReplyDeleteThe research you shared just validated what many of us that work with young children knew instinctively, infants are excellent judges of character! Infants can sense genuine caring and concern in others. I am going to get a copy of this research for our infant teachers. They will enjoy it.
I share your passion for informing our colleagues about the verbal development of infants. Thank you for sharing this research study with us.
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