Belongingness as the Foundation of Social and Emotional Development: Focus on Black Infants, Toddlers, and Young Children

Belongingness is theorized to be the foundation of all human thriving, serving as a lifelong core need rooted in our very survival; thus, social and emotional well-being depends upon achievingf a cohesive and positive sense of belongingness. Social and emotional development, the domains that comprise mental health and wellness across the lifespan, are often conceptualized in behavioral terms for the earliest period of life and without this context of human purpose and motivation. In the current chapter, we discuss belongingness as a guiding principle for how to understand the social and emotional development of infants, toddlers, and young children. We highlight intersubjectivity, meaning-making, and emotion regulation as developmental areas that inform children’s belongingness. We center the development of Black infants, toddlers, and preschoolers through the Protection, Promotion, and Preservation Framework with guidance for professionals, families, and community leaders to disrupt persistent threats to belongingness and to invest in pathways for optimal social and emotional development among Black children.