Healthy Attachment Research Paper
Healthy Attachment in Infants and Toddlers
Sheila Epper
ECE332: Child Development Course name and number
Allyson Randall
September 13, 2011
The most important time in a child’s life are the first three years when his emotional, social, physical, and cognitive developments are the most impacted and influenced. Displays of love and affection between an infant and parent develop a bond that creates an emotional attachment between the two and depending on the emotional security; some attachments are healthy, while others are not. Building a secure emotional attachment is important to the positive development of every infant and toddler because the impacts in infancy can be seen throughout the rest of his life. This paper will address the importance of creating those healthy bonds of attachment.
Infants and toddlers who experience healthy attachment are more likely to “mildly protest their mother’s departure, seek interaction upon reunion, and are readily comforted by their mothers” (Rathus, 2011, pg. 116). A secure attachment creates confidence in the infant and toddler which allows him to feel safe. Separation from a parent may create a few moments of insecurity. However, a reunion with the parent is warmly welcomed with the child seeking attention from the parent, rather than ignoring the parent’s …show more content…
119). Simply put, infants need to feel comforted and secure in order for healthy attachments to develop. As an example, in an experiment where surrogate mothers were created for rhesus monkeys, the surrogate that was soft but yet had no bottle was more welcoming to the monkeys. Personally, this type of attachment is often seen among young children. The child who clings to a favorite blanket because it smells of mom’s perfume or holds a picture of mom or dad, feels comfort. This same child will also respond to a friendly smile and a
Sheila Epper
ECE332: Child Development Course name and number
Allyson Randall
September 13, 2011
The most important time in a child’s life are the first three years when his emotional, social, physical, and cognitive developments are the most impacted and influenced. Displays of love and affection between an infant and parent develop a bond that creates an emotional attachment between the two and depending on the emotional security; some attachments are healthy, while others are not. Building a secure emotional attachment is important to the positive development of every infant and toddler because the impacts in infancy can be seen throughout the rest of his life. This paper will address the importance of creating those healthy bonds of attachment.
Infants and toddlers who experience healthy attachment are more likely to “mildly protest their mother’s departure, seek interaction upon reunion, and are readily comforted by their mothers” (Rathus, 2011, pg. 116). A secure attachment creates confidence in the infant and toddler which allows him to feel safe. Separation from a parent may create a few moments of insecurity. However, a reunion with the parent is warmly welcomed with the child seeking attention from the parent, rather than ignoring the parent’s …show more content…
119). Simply put, infants need to feel comforted and secure in order for healthy attachments to develop. As an example, in an experiment where surrogate mothers were created for rhesus monkeys, the surrogate that was soft but yet had no bottle was more welcoming to the monkeys. Personally, this type of attachment is often seen among young children. The child who clings to a favorite blanket because it smells of mom’s perfume or holds a picture of mom or dad, feels comfort. This same child will also respond to a friendly smile and a