The purpose of this publication is to outline the existing knowledge of early infant development regarding thought processes (cognition) and the relationship with caregivers (attachment). It also provides examples of what this knowledge can mean for parents, professionals and the social institutions that support families with infants, and also presents identified knowledge gaps.
With the help of technology, we have gained extensive knowledge of the rich inner world of infants and their desire to explore. The first thousand days are of great importance for a child’s health and continued development, and how the child is treated by the surrounding world is paramount. Sensitive caregiving, social interaction, active exploration and processing abstract information lay the groundwork for cognitive and emotional development.
This publication is also available in a Swedish version. Read or download the Swedish Research brief here.
