For what reason is discipline important in an infant's development?

Discipline is crucial in an infant's development primarily for the purpose of instilling age-appropriate boundaries. Infants are in a critical stage of learning about the world around them, and understanding limits is an essential part of this learning process. Setting boundaries helps infants distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors, fostering a sense of security and predictability in their environment.

When caregivers consistently enforce boundaries, they provide a framework that supports the infant's emotional and social development. This process helps children develop self-regulation, allowing them to manage their emotions and behaviors effectively as they grow. Learning boundaries teaches infants about consequences and helps them navigate social interactions as they progress into toddlerhood and beyond.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary developmental needs of infants. Financial responsibility, competition, and physical fitness are concepts that become more relevant in later stages of childhood and are not appropriate focuses during the infancy stage. Thus, instilling age-appropriate boundaries through discipline remains the most pertinent reason in this context.