Like adults, children (even very young ones) use others' emotions to direct their own behaviors. This is called social referencing.

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Social referencing is a well-documented phenomenon in child development research. It refers to when children use others' emotional expressions or reactions to interpret ambiguous situations and guide their own behaviors. For example, if a child sees their caregiver react with fear to a barking dog, they may also begin to feel scared and avoid the dog.

Like Adults, Children (Even Very Young Ones) Use Others' Emotions