An Attachment Between A Child And An Adult - 1609 Words

An attachment between a child and an adult who is unique to them is essential to a child’s health and well-being, this is called the attachment theory. A key person is a member of staff or adult with responsibilities for a child/children, to make them feel safe and always cared for. The key person needs to respond sympathetically to children’s feelings and their actual behaviour, also meeting a child s emotional needs by reassuring they can try to can get problems sorted out. By being attached to an adult, it helps the child feel that they are secure that the person they are now depending on, is there for them whenever they need them. If a child is delayed in any way of learning, the key person can support them by getting to know and†¦show more content†¦He also believed that if the children bond earlier in their life with their chosen caregivers, it has a massive impact which will continue throughout their life. Bowlby s ethological theory of attachment shows the infant s emotional connection to the caregiver as a response which is promoting their survival, he then said that it was an idea of the infant-caregiver bond. He knew that the infant knew that the caregiver is dependable, which creates that security needed for the child to then start exploring the world. He stated that the first three years of a child are a very sensitive period of attachment. The four phases of attachment he discovered were: †¢ Pre attachment Phase= (birth-6 weeks) which is when a baby initiates signals to attract a caregiver, eg- grasping, crying. †¢ Attachment in Making Phase= (6 weeks-6/8 months) when an infant responds differently to a familiar caregiver than to strangers, eg- the baby would babble, smiling a lot more to the mother. †¢ Clear cut Attachment Phase= (6/8 months-18 months/2 years) the attachment to a familiar caregiver become evident, eg- they start to develop Separation Anxiety where they are upset when an adult they rely on leaves. †¢ The formation Of Reciprocal Relationship= (18 months-2 years and on) As at this age the toddlers have a massive growth in representation and language, they are able to understand if their parents are coming or going, eg- the child can negotiate with