And through all of this, relationships are absolutely key. For the infant, the relationship with primary caregivers is the foundation of their capacity for all future relationships. It is in the context of nurturing and caring relationships that the child can meet a challenge; in the face of any new challenge, an adult can model, encourage, and provide a helping hand. And the relational reward—the smile, word of encouragement, congratulations for progress during and after the challenge—motivates the child, which leads to repetition and mastery. A child without these relational supports will
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