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Wednesday 6 January 2016

Free on-line attachment and baby development course looks interesting.

I have no idea what this will be like (it starts on 28th March) but the person who has set it up has done some very interesting research into attachment parenting so it might be very good indeed.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/babies-in-mind 

You can express interest now and presumably get access from 28th March.  It is 4 hours a week for 4 weeks.

Here is the course outline: 
 
This course will explore how the mind of the parent influences the developing mind of the child, from conception through infancy and into later life.
We will take you on a journey that begins in pregnancy, exploring the importance of the ability of the mother-to-be to think about her baby while still in utero, alongside the impact of emotions such as anxiety and depression.
We will then explore what the research tells us about the way in which the parent’s emotional and cognitive mind, can shape the interactional context of the baby during the first two years of life, and the impact of this interaction on the baby’s developing mind. This will include, for example, thinking about the parent’s ability to be ‘mind-minded’ in terms of being able to treat their baby as an individual with a mind of their own.
Throughout, we’ll seek to answer questions such as:
  • How does a parent’s mind influence the development of a baby before he or she is born?
  • What processes take place in the post-natal period that influence the baby’s developing mind?
  • What can we do during pregnancy and the post-natal period to support parents who are experiencing difficulties?
You will get the chance to hear from expert academics and clinicians working in infant mental health, and share your views with other parents and caregivers around the world.

Requirements

This free online course is aimed at everyone who has an interest in promoting the well-being of their own baby, or the parents and babies they work with. You do not need any prior knowledge of infant or child development, just a desire to learn about parents and babies, and the way that early interaction shapes later development. The course is based on the latest research in the field and you will be introduced to key concepts relating to infant psychology and attachment.