http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/ ... eckdam.pdf
An excerpt:
Understanding Attachment and the Effects
of Separation on Young Children
The first few years of life are a time of unparalleled growth. A child’s experiences
and relationships during these critical years build the foundation for future social,
emotional, and cognitive development.
Infants and toddlers are completely
dependent on the adults in their lives, and the care that they receive and the attachments that they form “are critical building blocks for future development and adult
well-being.”
During the first few months of life, babies begin to show a marked preference for
one or two primary caregivers. By about four months, babies communicate this
preference through their behaviors (e.g., following with the eyes, smiling, quieting
more easily) in the presence of the familiar caregiver. As babies get older (age 7 to
14 months), the attachment intensifies, and they often cry or protest when separated from the primary attachment figure. In addition, they may initially protest
or avoid their caregiver when reunited. By age three, children begin to generalize
attachment (that is, they can feel secure with other attachment figures such as relatives). Attachment behaviors are still present in older children but are less urgent
than those shown by infants.
Attachment theory provides a framework within which to understand the effects
of separation on very young children and the importance of frequent visitation for
infants and toddlers in foster care. Child development specialists regard attachment relationships as “one of the primary goals of infancy.”
Secure and stable
attachments with a primary caregiver form the foundation for a child’s social,
emotional, and cognitive development. Children who develop secure attachments
show a greater capacity for self-regulation, effective social interactions, selfreliance, and adaptive coping skills later in life.