The word ‘attachment’ refers to the significant emotional connection between a primary caregiver/parent and child. Across all cultures, races, genders, and communities, healthy attachments between young children and their caregivers impact the development of children in a profoundly meaningful way.

After an infant is born, he/she begins to communicate with their caregivers in very subtle, yet powerful ways. Even before infants can use actual language, they display a series of nonverbal cues that, when his/her caregiver can read them and respond in a sensitive, attuned way, become an unspoken dialect between the two, almost like a dance. Over time, even as children grow and change throughout the developmental periods, their needs for sensitivity and responsiveness from their trusted caregivers do not change. As the ‘dance’ becomes more refined as children age, caregivers learn the new language of what the child needs, all of it tracing back to our very early instinctual need to survive and thrive as a human species. Whether as a young child, adolescent, or adult, our need to connect with each other is primal in nature, and when these attachment relationships are done well, humans thrive.

If a child receives consistent, sensitive caregiving responses from their caregiver starting early in life, he/she has considerable advantage in their later emotional, academic and social functioning vs. a child who does not receive these predictable responses. The bottom line: hug and love your babies! Babies have survival instincts and emotional attachment IS one of them! We need hugs and love just as much as we need food and water!  For more information on attachment-based research, see Zero to Three (www.zerotothree.org), a national organization focused on advancing infant and early child mental health.  

For parents who are struggling in their relationships with their babies (or children), the mental health community has successfully developed and trained therapists in implementing evidence-based attachment therapies that contribute to better parent-child attachment and healthier interactions. Our clinicians can help strengthen your ability to successfully do the “attachment dance” with your child(ren).  Call us today to discuss an initial consultation.  

Megan Kersch, LCSW-C
Licensed Clinical Social Worker