attachment, bonding and temperment

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Attachment, Bonding and Temperament There are three important stages in child development that we need to learn and implement in early childhood. These three stages are bonding, attachment and temperament. The first is attachment. Attachment is an emotional bond to another person. It is a lasting psychological connectedness between human beings as described by a psychologist named John Bowlby. Attachment also is a learned ability where emotional connections between a parent and child are nurtured over time through mutual interaction, and is based on trust. Characteristics of attachment are the following: "Safe Haven" is when a child feels afraid or threatened in any matter, they will return to the caregiver for comfort and soothing. The second characteristic is "secure base". Secure Base is when a caregiver provides a dependable and secure base for the child to explore the world. The third is "proximity maintenance". Proximity Maintenance is when the child strives to stay near the caregiver, which in turn keeps the child safe. And last is "separation distress". Separation Distress is when the child is separated from the caregiver; they will become distressed and upset. Attachment is very important in the early stages. Failure to form secure attachments early in life can have a negative impact on behavior in later childhood and throughout life. Bonding, on the other hand, occurs between a parent and child without knowledge, intent or conscious effort. Bonding is the period where an emotional tie between parent and infant is present. The process begins before birth, when the parent(s) become aware of the fact that they have a growing child inside and the relationship can begin. For the baby, bonding begins the process of trust and communication. It teaches a child that he or she is loved and wanted. It instills self-esteem as
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