Inhibitory Control

Inhibitory control is an essential part of a young child’s life.  It is where they start to learn how to control their body more.  Can your child stop on cue?  Or do their feet keep running?  Learning this important skill has important benefits in your the development of your child.

•    Late in the first year of life, there are important developments in inhibitory control, or the ability to suppress a dominant response
•    Another accepted measure of inhibitory control is the object retrieval task, where an object is placed behind a clear barrier and infants must suppress the prepotent tendency to reach through, rather than around, the blockade.
•    Inhibitory control, an individual’s ability to inhibit responses to irrelevant stimuli while pursuing a cognitively represented goal has been linked to the development of emotion regulation, conscience, and social competence (Kochanska).  Some example tasks that have been used to assess inhibitory control include: the Gift Delay task, in which children are instructed not to peek while the experimenter noisily wraps a present for them.
•    Kochanska has demonstrated a link between early temperament, specifically high inhibitory control and low impulsivity, and later conscience development.
•    Developmental implications of early differences in inhibitory control include differences in multiple aspects of morally relevant conduct, such as the tendency to violate prohibitions while without surveillance…, adolescent drug use…, self-control in the face of temptation…, or empathy” (Kochanska)

Kochanska, G., Murray, K., & Coy, K.C. (1997). Inhibitory control as a contributor to conscience in childhood: From toddler to school age. Child Development, 68, 263-277.

Object Permanence, Separation Anxiety and Separation Issues

Object permanence refers to the ability of the brain to retain and utilise visual images. It develops at about eight months of age. This faculty is distinct from a baby’s recognition memory.
For example, a baby is able to recognise and prefers to look at its mother by the third day of life. However, they may cry upon being left by mother; “Out of sight, out of mind.”

At around eight months, the child can exhibit signs of separation anxiety when mother leaves the room. This is because the child can now appreciate what he has just lost – the presence of his mother. Another sign of the attainment of object permanence is baby’s delight at the game of “peek-a-boo,” which demonstrates graphically that the child appreciates that just because Mother is out of direct view she is still in the world and can be recalled by moving the hands or blanket out of the way.  Stranger anxiety is another.

Separation stress or separation fear is the phase of intense fear that infants and toddlers experience as part of the normal development of the understanding that parents can be trusted to return to them. When babies first develop object permanence, they become aware of the concept of “Mother is not here” for the first time. This can frighten the child, who often cries when mother leaves the room, crawls after her, or refuses to go to another person. (See stranger anxiety below).

The ultimate cure for separation anxiety is simply the fact that mother always returns, and baby learns this by experience. Remember that object permanence is a feature of visual memory. You may find it less stressful for the younger infant who cries and crawls after you if you continue a little auditory reassurance when you first leave the room. That is, talk, hum or sing while you are in the room and then continue to do so softly after you have left the room. Pop your head back in every few minutes to help.

If a child is going through this phase late (18-24 months or older) here are some suggestions:

Help the child learn to separate. Play little games of hide-and-seek. At first, stand or sit just outside the room around the corner of the doorway so the child knows you are very close. Then you call for the child – pretend you miss him. Do this, and he will accept being temporarily out of direct sight of you. Then start going a little farther down the hall. Let him find you, and you find him. Maybe sit in the room next door to where he is playing. The idea is to gradually separate more and more. You’ll teach him very quickly to separate again and to not be so afraid. The key is to remember that at no time do you want him to be afraid. Start very slowly at first, and then separate more and more as you get a feel for what he can tolerate comfortably.

STRANGER ANXIETY

Stranger anxiety is another reflection of the effects of object permanence. “You’re not my mummy! I know my mummy and you’re not my mummy!” Young children do much better with this if adults around them remember that it may take a little while for the child to warm up to a stranger, even grandpa if he hasn’t been around the child recently (or even worse, daddy after a long business trip). If this is a problem for you, advise such people to approach your child from 7-8 months old on more slowly and quietly, in a non-threatening way. The child will warm up to the newcomer as his natural curiosity takes over.

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The arrival of your new baby is a life-changing experience, and it’s normal to feel excited, exhausted, and anxious all at once. In order to be the best possible parent to your new child, you must make sure to take care of yourself. Here are some ways to maintain your sanity and your sense of self while caring for your wee one.

If you are a new Mum, do not fret about leftover baby weight. Instead, turn your focus to your general health, and make sure that you are eating plenty of balanced meals, drinking enough water, and taking your vitamins, especially if you are breastfeeding. Heed your doctor’s instructions for recovering from your child’s birth, especially if you had a c-section. If you crave physical activity and are able, take a walk or dance while your baby naps in a sling or carrier.

Sleep deprivation can negatively impact your overall well-being, and newborns are notorious for waking up every couple of hours. Share the nighttime parenting with your partner so that you are not the only one suffering from the effects of little sleep. Try splitting the night into shifts or taking turns getting up when the baby wakes. During the day, sleep when the baby sleeps. A catnap or two can do wonders for your mood after an especially rough night.

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Losing your sense of self in the hustle and bustle of new parenthood is easy to do, but “me time” can mitigate this problem. Whether you spend it soaking in the tub, sipping a glass of wine, reading a book or checking your email, having a few quiet minutes to yourself each day can be a sanity-saver. Work out a solution with your partner or a family member that allows you to take a much-needed break and recharge.

Your friends can be a great mood-booster during the post-partum period, whether they have kids or not. Friends who are parents can offer invaluable advice and support, but keeping up with your child-free friends is important, too. Schedule time to see friends in person as often as you can, and don’t feel guilty about attending social outings without your baby.

Finding a trusted babysitter early in your child’s life is a great way to make life easier when you have a newborn. Not only does it allow you and your partner some essential alone time as a couple, but it gets your baby used to spending time with other caregivers.

While feeling stressed is a normal part of being a new parent, make sure that you and your partner are aware of the symptoms of post-partum depression (PPD). Do not be afraid to reach out for help if things seem unbearable or you find yourself unable to care for yourself or your baby. With some help from your doctor, PPD is treatable, so there is no reason to make yourself suffer quietly.

Caring for your new baby may leave you sapped and drained, so it is essential to make time for yourself in order to maintain your mental and physical well-being. The ideas in this article can help you hold onto your health and your sense of self while you adjust to being a parent.