Tips on Helping Your Child Build Relationships | ZERO TO THREE

Building Healthy Relationships in Infants and Toddlers

• Core Concept: Relationship-building is the process of establishing emotional connections based on trust and intimacy, which begins at birth and forms the foundation for social skills throughout life.
• Developmental Milestones:
  • Newborns: Learn trust and security through consistent, loving care.
  • 6-month-olds: Discover the pleasure and satisfaction of connecting through interactive play (e.g., peek-a-boo).
  • Toddlers (20 months): Learn that their needs are valid when adults acknowledge and validate their frustrations.
  • Older Toddlers (2.5 years): Begin to develop empathy by observing and mimicking the caring behaviors of adults.
• Strategies for Nurturing Relationships:
  • Unstructured Time: Dedicate one-on-one time daily where the child leads the play; avoid multitasking.
  • Active Interest: Show sincere interest in the child’s activities by narrating their actions or participating in back-and-forth play.
  • Emotional Literacy: Teach children to label and express feelings in age-appropriate ways; model healthy coping mechanisms for your own emotions.
  • Validation: Respect a child’s feelings without minimizing them to build trust and empathy.
  • Play-based Learning: Use puppets, drawings, and books to explore complex emotions and social scenarios.
• Peer Interaction:
  • Provide opportunities for playdates to practice sharing, turn-taking, and conflict resolution.
  • Keep playdates short (45–60 minutes) for toddlers.
  • Actively facilitate peer interactions by encouraging children to ask each other for help, consider others' feelings, and work in teams.
• Screen Time Management: Limit TV and digital media, as they displace time for active play and problem-solving. If screens are used, engage with the child by discussing the content or acting out the stories together.