Summary

We have seen that babies are attuned to the world around them. They are born with a social brain and are able to communicate with their carers.

The neural links in the brain develop fast in the first 18 months. A warm and largely responsive family helps the baby develop useful pathways in the prefrontal cortex in the brain. These are used to interpret social interaction.

If emotional development progresses well it helps infants develop resilience or adaptability, which lets them adapt to play and learn in a changing social world. Emotional and social development become increasingly interdependent.

The way we assess the under 2's is through their play and their social interaction. Their behaviour and social development is the key to explain other aspects of development such as emotional and cognitive development. This is why it is so significant.