Sustains mutual gaze with caregiver
Infant locks eyes with caregiver for sustained periods (seconds to tens of seconds), producing the dyadic gaze synchrony that underpins affect regulation.
What the research says
Referenced across 1 developmental framework: bowlby_ainsworth_attachment_theory
Full quotes, source languages, and document links coming soon as we finish the source-evidence indexing pass.
Activities for this (12)
Soothe and Settle
Parent observes baby's self-soothing behaviours — thumb-sucking, head-turning, hand-clasping, gaze aversion — during a gentle transition from stimulation to calm. The agent coaches the parent to recognise these early self-regulation strategies as important character-building foundations.
Calm Connection
Parent holds baby in quiet stillness with sustained eye contact. The agent coaches the parent to observe baby's gaze regulation, body relaxation, and emotional co-regulation during this contemplative pause. This activity builds early mindfulness and relational presence.
Babble Back — A Sound Conversation
Parent engages baby in a vocal turn-taking game, copying baby's sounds and adding new ones. Agent guides parent to observe the variety and intentionality of babbling while making the interaction feel like a warm, natural conversation with their baby.
How Many Fingers?
Parent counts baby's toes and fingers aloud while gently touching each one. The agent coaches the parent to observe whether baby attends to the counting rhythm, tracks the touching hand, or shows heightened interest when quantities change. This playful routine introduces the concept of quantity through sensory experience.
Baby massage with gentle narration
Parent gives baby a slow, gentle massage on legs, arms, back. Agent offers sparse, tender prompts — less instruction, more permission. Observations track how baby receives touch and how parent tunes the pressure to baby's cues.
Face gazing
Parent holds baby 8-12 inches from their face and allows sustained mutual gaze. Agent's prompts are sparse — mostly permission to do less. Observations track reciprocal gaze and parent's comfort with silence.
Serve-and-return conversation
Parent watches for baby's 'serves' (a sound, a gaze, a wiggle) and responds with something similar — the root of all future conversation. Agent coaches the parent to wait, notice, return. Observations track each phase separately: reading the serve, returning in kind, baby's return signal, and sustained exchange.
Skin-to-skin narration
Parent holds baby skin-to-skin on their chest. The agent guides gentle, unhurried narration — not of what the baby should do, but of what the parent is noticing. A bonding moment. Observations track mutual settling and voice-response without the tone of measurement.
Face-to-Face Fun Time
A gentle, engaging activity where you help your baby practice focusing on your face, building early social connection and attention skills.
Baby's First Sound Symphony
A gentle, responsive activity where you encourage your baby's early vocal sounds through face-to-face interaction, imitation, and playful sound games.
Happy Hello Game
A gentle, face-to-face activity where you help your baby recognize you and express happiness when you approach.
Face-to-Face Follow Fun
Formal assessments
No matching assessment items indexed yet.
Standardised assessment view
2 instruments measure this construct. The construct page shows how each one approaches it and at what age range.
View as assessment construct →