Attachment

Attachment is a lasting, close emotional connection between two people in this case, an adult and an infant.  Attachments begin developing through one-to-one interactions between caregivers and infants.  Early experiences with these interactions shape the wiring in the brain, establishing patterns for how the child will develop relationships as she grows older. Timing is crucial because the brain is rapidly organizing in the first years of life. A child who is able to form positive and secure attachment in infancy has wiring in the brain that supports the ongoing ability to form healthy relationships.  A child whose attachments are negative and insecure can have continuing difficulty developing healthy relationships.