Interaction and Communication between parents and babies thr
Touch has long been researched but we yet need to know more about it since its effects are of such magnitude. Touch is the most essential communication channel for babies because they sense, understand and experience it more than any other stimulation. Babies need to be touched because it affects their mind and bodies' development, health and strengthens their bond with parents resulting in happier family life and facilitated development later in life. The benefits of this interaction are short term and long term if touch is properly administered at this early age. Physiological changes, action readiness, valenced emotions, discrete emotions, and most essential of all, love walong with safety and security, are communicated to babies when they are touched. All parents should take time to learn about touch and use this knowledge to improve their children's quality of life. Infant massage, the practice of massaging particular areas of a baby's body with gentleness and love is well established and taught by many institutions devoted to teaching parents necessary skills for child rearing. The key to successful infant massage is to remember that is it meant to be
What and how much is communicated to babies with touch? Evidence supports the theory that there are physiological changes in a person (such as respiratory patterns, skin temperature, perspiration, and pulse) as they experience different emotions. These changes are believed to be felt by babies when they are touched (Hertenstein 2002). Consequently, there are a number of communicative functions of touch on babies. Action readiness, "a person's preparation to act and implement a motor program to establish, maintain, or change a relationship to an event of significance to that person" may be communicated to the baby and help it predict what a caregiver might do next (Hertenstein 2002). Valenced emotions, (positive and negative emotions) are also believed to be communicated, elicited and modulated after touch (Hertenstein 2002). These positive and negative forms of touch administered to the babies reflect the moods of the parents, so logically, it can be said that parent's valenced emotions are transmitted (Field 2002). Even discrete emotions, the "basic" emotions, are communicated by distance, direction and speed of touch (Hertenstein 2002). Possibly the most important message communicated by touch is that of love and security (International Loving Touch Foundation, Inc. 1999). Main (1990) believed that touch was the "ultimate signal" of safety and security (Hertenstein 2002).
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Approximate Word count = 1343
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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