Espelho, espelho meu, me diga quem sou eu: a importância do cuidar e educar para o desenvolvimento socioemocional na primeiríssima infância

Abstract

It is understood that the baby, being physically and psychologically immature during the first years of life, requires an adult who, in addition to providing basic care to maintain bodily health, can offer the emotional investment needed to help them develop the subjective abilities required to sustain relationships with themselves and with the world. In this sense, recognizing that the family and/or caregivers play a fundamental role in supporting development through the subjective pathway of affection, the presented research—based on theoretical conceptions of child development, social-emotional learning, and self-care, as well as on the content of interviews with three participating families—aimed to create a guidance and support material to contribute to the promotion of socio-emotional skills in children during early infancy. The reports presented in the interviews demonstrated the significant importance that families have attributed to subjective development, understanding and valuing the need for contact and the affective caregiving relationship with their babies. In this regard, it was also observed that mothers invest in promoting social-emotional development by encouraging learning, prioritizing scientific aspects and the construction of their own experiences with their babies, rather than relying on traditional popular knowledge (myths). Regarding self-care, it was noted that, in general, families, especially mothers, still find it significantly difficult to normalize caring for themselves as part of their routines, within which their babies, who demand constant care.