Understanding Attachment in Young Children (continued)

What do these patterns mean? In general, these patterns or types of attachment suggest the quality of the relationship a child feels toward a particular person
(parent, grandparent, caregiver, etc.). They represent children's felt sense of security and comfort level with the person's responsiveness to their needs. They are important because children often show different outcomes in their well-being based on attachment style. Some of the important aspects of a child's growth affected by attachment quality include the following:

• Children who are secure in their attachments more freely explore their environment and are able to learn with confidence, while children who are insecure are more likely to struggle in being confident and learning about their surroundings.

• Children who are secure tend to be more popular with peers and exhibit more positive social interaction with other kids, while children who are insecure seem more at risk for hostile, anti-social or difficult relationships with other children.

• Children who are secure tend to be more emotionally stable and able to express and manage their feelings well, while children who are insecure are more likely to be emotionally unstable and have difficulty in expressing and managing feelings.

• Children who are secure demonstrate greater ability to handle stress and help others handle stress, while children who are insecure are more likely to struggle when stressed, act out in unhealthy ways and be insensitive to others who are stressed.

The importance of attachment quality can be significant. How do such attachments develop?

Development of attachment styles

Several key factors can affect the quality of a child's attachment. These can include the child's temperament (more active and outgoing, etc.), the context of
the situation (stranger present, familiar room, etc.), early history (traumatic experience, etc.) and other things. But the way in which a parent responds to and interacts with a young child is the key factor in how an attachment develops.

A child's attachment style generally develops based on the child's perception or understanding of the caregiver's reliability in providing comfort, support and security. Behaviors that promote attachment and provide the opportunity for meaningful interaction include:

• Smiling

• Looking at each other

• Vocalizing to each other

• Following

• Clinging

• Physical touch and hugging

• Exploring the surroundings

• Feeding interactions

• Crying

• Playing

Attachment Quiz - True or False?

Scientists who study parent-child interactions have learned much about what builds a strong attachment relationship. Answer to yourself whether the following statements are True or False.

1. Young children bond easily with a wide variety of caregivers in the first two years of life.

2. The type of attachment relationship a parent forms with a young child has little effect on how the child's brain forms.

3. Infants in the first six months who cry for food or comfort should not be picked up every time because they'll be "spoiled."

4. Young children really enjoy interaction but parents need to be careful not to "overstimulate" them.

5. Young children who have not formed healthy attachments often can overcome this challenge through intensive and caring attention.

The answer to the first three statements is FALSE; the answer to the last two statements is TRUE.