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Your baby is already beginning to show you how he feels. This means that he has ways to tell you when he's happy, sad, excited or even angry. Babies are tuned in to what people do and say to them. So it is important to pay attention to their feelings.
Your baby has been learning how to show you what he feels since he was born. The way you respond to his feelings helps his emotional growth. It also helps him learn to trust and enjoy you and the other people who care for him.
Your baby has been watching your face closely. He is learning to read the look on your face. And he is learning to respond to the look on your face. He is learning also to notice small changes in your voice. By reading and responding to these cues in others, he is learning to care about other people and their feelings.
Your baby has a personality at birth. Research shows some ways to help him develop his emotional and social skills. You can do this by tuning in to your child's behavior. Take an interest in the things that interest him. Try to figure out what your baby is trying to tell you when he laughs, cries or shakes his arms and legs in excitement. It helps your child when you are happy and interested in life, too.
Your baby's ability to think and learn is closely tied to how he is feeling. When he is alert and feeling good, he is more likely to observe, explore and play. He is more likely to learn and remember new things when people pay attention to what he likes. You can help your baby when you show him your love.
Month By Month has been adapted for Fathers from Healthy Start, Grow Smart, Your Newborn, Washington, D.C. 2002 - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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