Social and emotional competence: intervening in infancy

Abstract

In the past 50 years, a vast amount of knowledge from numerous disciplines has shown that the development of the brain is largely dependent on social and emotional input from a child's immediate environment. On the basis of this knowledge we have come to understand the impact the early years of development (conception to 5 years) has on building a strong foundation for later development. Over the past decade international comparisons have shown that infants and young children are most at risk for maltreatment and infant mortality. NZ in particular is falling far behind other OECD countries in the care and protection of their youngest citizens. NZ has a level of child maltreatment 4 to 6 times higher than the average leading countries. This chapter argued that early interventions that are evidence-based are needed if we are to address our poor record of child maltreatment, and promote healthy transitions to adolescence and adulthood.