Little one has discovered 'Fear'

Quote by the Buddha; A silent prayer for my son and everyone out there

 I always thought that 'fear' was a learned behavior. that till i don't teach my little one what fear is, he would be a dare-devil raring to go! for example, i assumed that only when i started to resort to 'dhuan wala', 'gabbar singh' or 'green goblets'  who would eat my baby up or take away his favorite toy if he didn't behave, he would not know what fear is. And i had decided long ago that i would not use these characters to make him do the right thing. I would reason it with him instead. hmm...hello, first time mommy, remember?

 Suddenly, no i could see it coming.. but i chose to ignore, thinking it would be a one off thing, but now my baby fears things..things that he loved once..i agree he always cried when the pressure cooker would whistle but these days; the diaper changing rooms, lifts, darkness and gulp! a bath  will make him cling to me and scream like his pants were on fire!! I mean, he took to swimming like a pro and now he cries every time i bathe him.. and what's with the claustrophobia? he was in an absolute dark, confined space for 9 months!!!these places should feel like home to him!! The shrieks in the lifts and diaper rooms are so scary that if you ever heard it, you would definitely call the ambulance!

I was wrong about the whole 'fear' business. Even if i don't teach him to fear..he will still learn.. and guess what, it's a part of his emotional development.. it's true.. negative emotions emerge between 7 to 12 months..no wonder my happy - go -lucky- decided it was time to be cranky - go - scream y.

So i have decided to 'mommy up' about it and make him feel safe in the 'fear zone' and when he is ready, we will start breaking down his fears one by one..( looks like this is going to be a long list)

To anyone who wants to know more about these development, am leaving you with a few excerpts:
 

Emotional Development in the First Six Months

• In the first month or so, crying is the only way a child can voice feelings of displeasure. By the third month, however, crying may cease and make way for real outward displays of emotion. Smiling will become a way to communicate. By four months, she gets even better at communicating needs, and begins to notice other people's emotions, too. When someone seems happy, she may smile, or if anger is shown, she might become upset. At five months, a baby may laugh for the first time, show preference toward familiar people, and demonstrate emotions through facial expressions. At six months, a child will start to imitate a parent's actions and emotions.

Emotional Development in Months Seven through Twelve

• At seven months a child might start to show fear. Between eight and ten months, a child will show facial expressions that correspond with basic emotions, and stranger anxiety will be in full force. Towards the end of the first year, he will show signs of independence, and continues to show every emotion he has. It isn't until his second year that a child learns to somewhat manage his feelings.

Emotional Development in the First Six Months

• In the first month or so, crying is the only way a child can voice feelings of displeasure. By the third month, however, crying may cease and make way for real outward displays of emotion. Smiling will become a way to communicate. By four months, she gets even better at communicating needs, and begins to notice other people's emotions, too. When someone seems happy, she may smile, or if anger is shown, she might become upset. At five months, a baby may laugh for the first time, show preference toward familiar people, and demonstrate emotions through facial expressions. At six months, a child will start to imitate a parent's actions and emotions.

Emotional Development in Months Seven through Twelve

• At seven months a child might start to show fear. Between eight and ten months, a child will show facial expressions that correspond with basic emotions, and stranger anxiety will be in full force. Towards the end of the first year, he will show signs of independence, and continues to show every emotion he has. It isn't until his second year that a child learns to somewhat manage his feelings.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_4578422_infant-emotional-development.html

Emotional Development in the First Six Months

• In the first month or so, crying is the only way a child can voice feelings of displeasure. By the third month, however, crying may cease and make way for real outward displays of emotion. Smiling will become a way to communicate. By four months, she gets even better at communicating needs, and begins to notice other people's emotions, too. When someone seems happy, she may smile, or if anger is shown, she might become upset. At five months, a baby may laugh for the first time, show preference toward familiar people, and demonstrate emotions through facial expressions. At six months, a child will start to imitate a parent's actions and emotions.

Emotional Development in Months Seven through Twelve

• At seven months a child might start to show fear. Between eight and ten months, a child will show facial expressions that correspond with basic emotions, and stranger anxiety will be in full force. Towards the end of the first year, he will show signs of independence, and continues to show every emotion he has. It isn't until his second year that a child learns to somewhat manage his feelings.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_4578422_infant-emotional-development.html

Emotional Development in the First Six Months

• In the first month or so, crying is the only way a child can voice feelings of displeasure. By the third month, however, crying may cease and make way for real outward displays of emotion. Smiling will become a way to communicate. By four months, she gets even better at communicating needs, and begins to notice other people's emotions, too. When someone seems happy, she may smile, or if anger is shown, she might become upset. At five months, a baby may laugh for the first time, show preference toward familiar people, and demonstrate emotions through facial expressions. At six months, a child will start to imitate a parent's actions and emotions.

Emotional Development in Months Seven through Twelve

• At seven months a child might start to show fear. Between eight and ten months, a child will show facial expressions that correspond with basic emotions, and stranger anxiety will be in full force. Towards the end of the first year, he will show signs of independence, and continues to show every emotion he has. It isn't until his second year that a child learns to somewhat manage his feelings.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_4578422_infant-emotional-development.html

Emotional Development in the First Six Months

• In the first month or so, crying is the only way a child can voice feelings of displeasure. By the third month, however, crying may cease and make way for real outward displays of emotion. Smiling will become a way to communicate. By four months, she gets even better at communicating needs, and begins to notice other people's emotions, too. When someone seems happy, she may smile, or if anger is shown, she might become upset. At five months, a baby may laugh for the first time, show preference toward familiar people, and demonstrate emotions through facial expressions. At six months, a child will start to imitate a parent's actions and emotions.

Emotional Development in Months Seven through Twelve

• At seven months a child might start to show fear. Between eight and ten months, a child will show facial expressions that correspond with basic emotions, and stranger anxiety will be in full force. Towards the end of the first year, he will show signs of independence, and continues to show every emotion he has. It isn't until his second year that a child learns to somewhat manage his feelings.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/about_4578422_infant-emotional-development.html