Warm Greetings
Parent observes and elicits affectionate behaviour toward familiar people, and notes responses to strangers. Covers stranger wariness and affection-toward-familiar milestones at 12-18mo. Three phases: observing spontaneous affection, eliciting familiar-person warmth, and noting stranger response.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
No special setup. Works in any environment. If possible, have a second family member or familiar person present for the affection observation. A brief encounter with a less-familiar person (a neighbour, a different caregiver) is helpful for the stranger-wariness observation.
How it works
- 1~60s
Watch your child for the next minute during normal interaction with you or another familiar person. Does they initiate physical affection — lean in, hug, pat your face, snuggle — or does they smile and coo at you? Does your child seem to prefer being close to you vs. across the room? Tell me what you observe.
Watch for: Child shows spontaneous affection toward familiar caregiver
- 2~30s
If another family member is present: ask them to crouch to your child's level and open their arms for a hug. Does your child go to them? Smile? Wave? Any response that shows recognition and warmth? If alone, try calling your child's name warmly — does they look up and smile? Tell me.
Watch for: Child responds with warmth when familiar person invites affection
- 3~30s
If there's an opportunity with a less-familiar person — a neighbour, a distant relative, anyone your child sees infrequently — observe their reaction when that person approaches or greets them. Alternatively, recall a recent encounter with someone unfamiliar. Does your child show caution, withdrawal, or distress? Or do they warm up quickly? Tell me.
Watch for: Child shows caution or wariness around less-familiar or unfamiliar people