Related Early Childhood Sites

- California Early Childhood Mentor Program (CECMP)Mentorship and leadership program that strengthens the early learning & care workforce by connecting experienced professionals with those new to the field
- California Early Childhood Online (CECO)Online learning system offers professional development modules for early childhood educators
- California Early Learning VideosVideo resources demonstrating best practices in early childhood education
- California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN)Provides professional development, instructional support and resources for preschool educators
- CDSS LEAD Outreach HubProfessional Development and coaching resources to strengthen early childhood program administration
- Child Development Training Consortium (CDTC)Provides services, training, and career advancement resources for early childhood students and professionals
- Personalized Oral Language Learning (POLL) StrategiesStrategies to support and strengthen multilingual learning and language development for dual languages learners from infancy through preschool in all early learning and care settings
- Program for Infant Toddler Care (PITC)Training and resources specifically focused on quality care for infants and toddlers
- All About Young ChildrenTools and resources to support families’ understanding of young children’s development and early learning
- Family Child Care at Its Best (FCCB)Research-based workshops for family child care providers to improve quality care
- MyChildCarePlan.orgTool for families to search and find licensed child care options
- Resource and ReferralHelps connect families find child care and provides support to child care providers. Provides support to child care providers such as training, licensing guidance, and quality improvement
- TrustlineBackground check system for nannies, babysitters, and license- exempt child care providers
- Beginning TogetherResources for inclusive practices supporting children with disabilities and their families
- California Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation NetworkSupports mental health and well-being for young children through consultation services, resources and training activities for child care and early education providers in all settings
- California Making Access Possible (MAP) to Inclusion and BelongingProvides a clearinghouse of resources to support the inclusion of young children with disabilities or delays in child care, preschool, or out-of-school time programs
- California Teaching PyramidSystematic framework, training, and resources for supporting social-emotional development and addressing challenging behaviors
- CDSS DLL ResourcesStrategies and tools to support dual language learners and promote multilingual development in early childhood settings
- CDSS QIS RevisionsUpdates and guidance on California’s Quality Improvement System revisions
- CompSATEarly learning and care self-assessment toolkit that accompanies the ECE Competencies
- Desired Results (DR) Field TrainingStatewide trainings that help early childhood administrators and staff use the Desired Results system and DRDP assessment tool to improve child development outcomes
- Early Learning PublicationsEarly Learning publications and resources from the California Department of Social Services
- Quality Counts California (QCC)California’s quality improvement system (QIS) for early learning programs

Video Transcript

Birth–4 Months

Social and Emotional Development

Narrator: The Social and Emotional Development domain includes the strand Self. In the first four months, infants express emotions like joy and fear. They also show interest in people and things and express needs.

Example 1

Text on screen: Expresses needs through signs of distress

On screen: 1-month-old Noah expresses discomfort while being held in his mother’s arms. His mother tries to figure out why he is distressed.

Noah: (fussing)

Mother: You wanna try to grab my finger? Wanna try to grab my finger?

On screen: Noah looks up at his mother and grasps her finger. He calms briefly.

Mother: There we go.

On screen: Noah fusses and begins to cry.

Mothern: My baby. Hey.

Noah: (fussing)

Example 2

Text on screen: Shows various emotional expressions

On screen: 2-month-old Sana lies on her back, cradled in her father’s lap while he rubs her belly and sings to her. Sana’s mother sits next to them on the sofa and holds out a finger for Sana to grasp. Sana focuses on her father’s face and voice as he sings.

Father: (singing in Swedish)

On screen: Sana smiles in delight as her father and mother continue to sing to her.

Mother: Yay!

Father: Yay!

Example 3

Text on screen: Shows awareness of hands as they learn to use their bodies

On screen: 4-month-old Endrick sits on his caregiver’s lap, holding her finger with one hand. He uses his hands to slowly explore the caregiver’s hands.

Caregiver: (speaking Spanish) Yes. Look. Oh. And you caught my finger, my index finger. Look, you caught my finger. And again, you have my index finger. This one is used for pointing and helps us to communicate.

On screen: Endrick stares intently as he brings his free hand to the caregiver’s finger. He continues opening and closing his hands

Caregiver: You are squeezing my finger. Very hard. I can see it.