Understanding Attachment
Research has found that the ability to form a healthy attachment is essential for optimum mental health. Understanding attachment and bonding it is foundational for all families. Because attachment begins in utero, it is particularly important for adoptive families.
The quality of attachment between baby and his primary caretakers is a powerful influence on what the child comes to expect in a relationship, and how the child feels and behaves in relation to other adults and peers. Attachment is a deep emotional and affectionate connection formed between a child and a caregiver that binds them together over time. Children who have a secure attachment are more likely to:
- Be confident, cooperative, and caring.
- Be better able to manage their emotions and impulses.
- Be less overwhelmed by stressful or difficult situations.