What’s key to a child forming healthy attachments? “Somebody’s got to be crazy about that kid. That’s number one. First, last, and always,” said developmental psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner.
Carolyn Ross Tomlin, M.Ed., said that “attachment” is establishing an “emotionally positive and mutually rewarding relationship between an infant and its parent or other caretaker.” Through bonding, parents and children realize that they’re special to each other, she said.
But this is nothing new to parents or anyone with a special young person in their life. Warm, nurturing interactions during the earliest months of an infant’s life help establish healthy parent-child bonds that are the foundation of a strong early childhood experience.
Through attachment and bonding, children learn to understand their own emotions, thoughts and needs, as well as the emotions, thoughts and needs of others. This understanding helps them feel secure and competent at home, and provides confidence as they branch out and learn more about the world around them. As they grow, children who associate positive feelings and experiences with learning will be more likely to succeed in school. And it all starts at home with attachment and bonding during those first days, weeks and months.
