Emotional expressions of young infants and children - A practitioner's primer

Research on emotional development in infancy has benefited greatly from the use of videotape technology and coding systems that allow detailed coding of facial movements. Today we know that a core set of human facial expressions, composed of specific movements in the brow, eye/cheek, and mouth regions of the face, are probably innate. Theorists continue to debate the meaning of these expressions as well as how they are organized and become regulated over the first several years of life. Despite continuing debate and research on these issues, early facial expressions have practical, signal value for caregivers and practitioners alike. This article surveys what is known about the appearance and early normative, developmental course of emotional expressions, noting similarities and differences in special populations when available. Its goal is to provide practitioners with basic information to help them and the parents they serve become better able to recognize the expressive signals of the infants and young children in their care.