CHILDHOOD ATTACHMENT

CHILDHOOD ATTACHMENT

 Attachment in children is "a biological instinct in which proximity to an attachment figure is sought when the child senses or perceives threat or discomfort. Attachment behaviour anticipates a response by the attachment figure which will remove threat or discomfort". Attachment also describes the function of availability, which is the degree to which the authoritative figure is responsive to the child's needs and shares communication with them. Childhood attachment can define characteristics that will shape the child's sense of self, their forms of emotion-regulation, and how they carry out relationships with others.Attachment is found in all mammals to some degree, especially nonhuman primates. Why is it important to form a secure child- parent bond in early childhood? It seems intuitive that a secure child-parent bond is important for survival and development. Research shows just how real those benefits are to children: They are better able to control their negative emotions in stressful situations. They develop better social competence, learn to match feelings with words in dealing with what’s happening around them, and they are less liable to develop internalizing and externalizing behaviour problems. They are more confident about exploring the world around them. They learn through their parent’s caring behaviours to have a sense of worth, and to empathize and cooperate with others. These social skills help them to form strong relationships with peers in the future. Sources: Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development Wikipedia