All children have their own unique way of interacting with the world around them. And
while much of this is contributed by their temperaments, the degree of emotional
nurturing plays a significant role. This essential piece is how attachment is formed. The
emotional bond between a child and their parent lays the foundation for how the child
will relate to other people and environments they encounter throughout their lives.
When we know how the type of attachment contributes to behaviors observed, we can
then serve children in the classroom in a more effective way.

Dr. John Bowlby, along with Dr. Mary Ainsworth, developed the Attachment Theory.
They created the “attachment behavior system,” which is the guiding system for our
patterns of developing relationships. The level of love and security felt by a child is the
basis for how each of the four types of attachment is formed.

1) Secure Attachment: These children see their parents as a firm base of support in
times of need or difficulty. In new situations, they may show some distress when
separated from their parent but are better once the parent returns. Because
they have developed trust that their parents always meet their needs, they trust
others more and are confident to explore things around them. These positive
feelings lead to more success in the classroom.

2) Anxious-Resistant Attachment: These children have tremendous amounts of
separation anxiety and display strong emotional reactions to this. In new
situations, they lack the confidence to explore new things, even when the parent
is present or has returned. These behaviors are generally developed from an
unpredictable parenting style, where the parent alternates between caring,
angry, and even insensitive approaches. These children may have more difficulty
in the classroom with relationship development and may isolate themselves.

3) Anxious-Avoidant Attachment: These children are very independent of their
parents and have minimal stress when separated. Even after the parent returns,
these children often don’t acknowledge them and prefer emotional distance
from others. Typically, their parents have cared for the child’s physical needs but
have been emotionally unresponsive. In the classroom, these children are likely
to resist help and show more aggression or other behaviors such as lying and
bullying.

4) Disorganized-Disoriented Attachment: These children are typically the victims of
abuse or neglect by their parents, and there is no specific pattern of behavior.
They look to their parent for basic needs to be met but with fear that they may
be hurt. They often avoid their parent and fear others as well. Because they
struggle with developing relationships, they may switch between being
withdrawn to being disruptive and aggressive.

Awareness of these types of attachment can assist teachers, counselors, coaches, and
other adults who work with children in recognizing individual needs to help fill the gaps.
The SKILLZ Child Development Program utilizes this knowledge to strengthen each child’s
individualized approach and needs. This method encourages an appreciation for a
child’s emotional deficiencies, so the Certified Pediatric Ninjas Specialists in the class
can address these things with a supportive social environment and classroom
management. Also, the program offers parents ways to improve connection leading to
a more secure attachment.

As a child grows, they develop attachments to others that they interact with frequently.
Using an approach that incorporates attachment awareness when working with
children, adults can create an environment that is a secure base for them. This insight
provides valuable information into each child’s world to influence their relationships
positively, which will lead to improved learning.