- Learn from parents about how their child expresses their emotions and what they do to soothe them.
- Support children who are distressed on separating from their parents by acknowledging their feelings and reassuring them.
- Be responsive to all communication such as crying, babbling and physical movements to acknowledge a baby’s emotional expressions.
- Be emotionally and physically available, providing a secure presence and a refuge at times when a baby may be feeling anxious.
- “Tune in” to emotions and respond calmly, gently and sensitively in a way that follows their needs.
- Use calming processes such as rocking or calmly singing in response to emotional expression and note what helps to sooth and support the baby.
- Learn lullabies and other songs that babies know from home and sing them to offer comfort.
- Make sure they have access to their comfort object whenever they need it.
- Show babies and children they are safe and loved by comforting them when experiencing frustration and anxiety.
- Share in happy and joyful experiences, joining in with their excitement without overwhelming them with your responses.
- Be consistent in your responses so children start to notice links between their actions and your responses.
- Support babies and young children in their play with others modelling caring and respectful behaviours and affirming their pro-social behaviours.
- Be alert to unexplained changes in behaviour or unusual injuries a child has and take action within safeguarding guidelines.
- Show that you empathise by gesture, facial expression and tone of voice, and name the child’s feelings.
