The benefits of healthy attachment are immense.  When a child feels that they can trust their parent to meet their needs they are more prepared to go out into the world and learn new skills.  This emotional bond that is formed not only stimulates brain growth but affects personality development. They learn that love is safe and reliable and learn to seek out loving relationships.  An infant can also learn to expect that their emotional needs will be met, so if they are hungry or tired, they know that someone will be there to help them get what they need.  Healthy attachment relationships have even been tied to self-regulation, self-esteem, healthy adult relationships, positive communication skills, and so much more. 

There is no “one way” to achieve a healthy and secure attachment relationship with your child, but there are agreed on approaches or parenting styles that are instrumental in developing a healthy attachment relationship which include:

• Sensitivity: Reading and responding quickly to your child’s needs
• Availability: Expressing and sharing feeling appropriately
• Openness: Accepting your child’s right to their own feelings
• Consistency: Establishing a routine and responding with a balance of consistency and flexibility to your child’s needs
• Affection: Having warm interactions with your child and developing a feeling of connectedness
• Being calm: Regulating your emotions to avoid extremes in behavior and being reactive
• Being rooted: Seeking to understand how your own childhood experiences influence your parenting

Parenting Tip

Attachment is something that you can easily build…you are likely already there! Even the little moments count – every time you respond to your child, you are laying the foundation for years of security and trust.