Early Relationships Lab

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Infants learn to express, understand, and regulate emotions in the context of relationships with primary caregivers. These emotional skills are the foundation for later mental health and prosocial development. In the Early Relationships Lab we are interested in understanding the ways in which caregiver's interactions and insights into infants thoughts, emotions and behavior support young children's mental health, especially in the context of family risks, like poverty and maltreatment. We also study ways to promote parental and non-parental caregivers' understanding of and response to young children's emotional needs. In addition, we work with community agencies to evaluate their programs designed to improve parenting and child development.

Please use the links above to learn more about our past and current projects, students working in the lab, and how to volunteer in the lab.