ABSTRACT
Infancy is a distinctly intimate period of development, during which caregiving adults become acquainted with tiny new people as individuals, and babies become active social participants, all within a context of mutual affection. This chapter identifies the influence of family and cultural contexts on infant development. It describes infant sensory capabilities and physical growth. The chapter explains the role of parent-infant interaction in early motor, cognitive, and social development. It summarizes principles and sequences of infant skill acquisition across motor, cognitive, and social domains. The chapter helps the caregivers to recognize variations in infant growth and behaviour across motor, cognitive, and social domains and draw conclusions about the impact on development. The development of infants during the first year of life is inextricably grounded in both physical development and relationships with caregivers. Earliest abilities of infants allow them to be active participants in social interactions and provide a meaningful context and incentive for development of cognitive, motor, and communication skills.
