Kūdikių namai atlieka kelias skirtingas funkcijas - globos, ugdymo ir gydymo. Edukaciniu aspektu tai - specifinė institucija, kurioje persipina įvairūs pedagoginio darbo metodai, turinys bei formos. Edukacinio proceso specifiškumą lemia keli veiksniai: vaikas auga ne šeimoje, jo psichomotorinė raida sutrikusi arba priklauso raidos rizikos grupei, dėl objektyvių institucijoje esančių sąlygų vaikas patiria emocinę, kognityvinę ir socialinę deprivaciją.

The article presents research that was carried out in infant homes of Lithuania. The aim of the research is to study what are the peculiarities and possibilities for changing emotional status of infants in the educational processes, which take place in infant homes. During the longitudinal observation of infants’ emotional reactions, and particularities of behavior, we have identified the key emotional reactions and conditions that are common to the early age children who are in institutional care. Generally, the emotions of joy, interest, sadness, anger, anxiety and homeostatic state were analyzed within the context of institutional environment as well as their changes during the day.