Amber gently touched the baby on the hand. Which domain of development does this support?

The action of gently touching the baby on the hand primarily supports social development. This type of physical interaction fosters a connection between the caregiver and the infant, which is essential for building social bonds. Through gentle touch, infants learn about trust, attachment, and mutual responsiveness—key elements of social development. Strong social skills are established early in life through such interactions, influencing how children relate to others as they grow.

While cognitive development involves the acquisition of knowledge and skills such as problem-solving and understanding the world, it doesn’t directly pertain to the act of touching. Emotional development relates to an individual’s ability to experience, express, and manage emotions, but gentle touch is more about social bonding than emotional processing. Approaches to learning focus on how children engage with learning experiences, including curiosity and motivation, which is not directly addressed by the physical act of touch. Thus, the nurturing act of touching aligns most closely with fostering social connections.