Understanding Attachment in Young Children (continued)

From research we know that:

1. Young children normally form strong attachments with one or two primary caregivers during the first two years of life, rather than many people.

2. The type of attachment relationship a child forms actually helps shape trillions of connections related to language, thinking, motor control and emotions in a baby's brain.

3. During the first six months of a child's life, children respond best to immediate and consistent attention and comfort and cannot be "spoiled" by it.

4. Children need a stimulating environment, but overstimulation can be stressful and have negative side effects on children at times.

5. Many programs exist to help children form strong, secure attachments if this has been lacking in their early development.

Parents and other caregivers should seek to understand the importance of healthy attachments with young children and work toward the formation of strong, secure attachments with children.

My Child's Attachments: A Personal Assessment

What do you think about the quality of your child's attachments to you and others?
With whom are those attachments? Might they be improved?
Use this exercise as a personal assessment to consider your own child's attachment relationships.

Section 1. Attachments to Whom?

Fill in the names of the people (you or others) with whom you feel your child has a primary (main)
attachment relationship. Then fill in those you identify as important secondary (supportive) attachment relationships for your child. This represents your child's "attachment web" of support for growth and development.

Section 2.
Type of Attachment

Think of attachment quality as occurring on a continuum from insecure to secure. Place yourself and your child somewhere on this continuum based on what you understand about attachment types.

Insecure-Resistant/Ambivalent
______________________

                                      ______________________Secure

______________________

Insecure-Avoidant or Disorganized

This is not a scientific evaluation; it is merely a tool to help you think about your own parent-child relationships. Attachment quality may be different for your relationships with different children. Additional examples that you may use are below.

Relationship 1 - ______________________

Insecure-Resistant/Ambivalent
______________________

                                      ______________________Secure