Reproduced by permission. Greenspan writes of six important developmental stages of children. During the first months of life a baby needs to organize her senses. While many babies are blessed with sensory and motor abilities that work in a seemingly effortless way, other perfectly normal infants have a considerably harder time trying to regulate their senses. The baby must learn to be calm, attentive, and interested in the world.
Every sensory experience is bonded with emotions.
By three months, hopefully, the baby feels safe experiencing her new world. In the second stage, 3-6 months,the baby needs to fall in love with his caregivers and develop positive emotional reactions. In this process, a sense of self is beginning to develop. Aspects of brain growth related to loving, emotional interactions lead to relationships and interactions that in turn promote a flowering of aspects of brain development involving communication, verbal reasoning, and logic skills. These are foundational skills for future emotional stability.