As a parent, you have many roles to play in your child’s life, including the crucial role of attachment figure. Attachment refers to the relationship between a child and caregiver that makes the child feel safe, secure and protected. It is not about entertaining or feeding the child, teaching them new skills or setting limits. Instead, it focuses on providing a secure base for the child to explore and find comfort and safety when needed.
What is Parent-Child Attachment?
If you’re looking to develop a healthy attachment with your child, it’s important to understand your attachment style. There are four types of infant-parent attachment: secure, avoidant, resistant, and disorganized. The quality of attachment that an infant develops with a specific caregiver is determined by the caregiver’s response to the infant’s distress.
Attachment Styles
Infants who consistently receive sensitive and loving responses from their caregivers feel secure expressing negative emotions and seeking comfort. This leads to a secure and organized attachment pattern. Infants whose caregivers are insensitive, rejecting or inconsistent develop avoidant or resistant attachment patterns. These patterns are also organized, but insecure, and increase the risk of social and emotional maladjustment.
For more information on attachment styles, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjOowWxOXCg. You can also learn more about your attachment style at the Attachment Project website: https://www.attachmentproject.com.
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