Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/belonging-including-children-of-gay-and-lesbian-parents-and-all-children-in-your-program/5016342/
As human beings we are driven to make connections and establish a sense of belonging. We see this in newborns as they enter the world, seeing everything through their inescapable need to form attachments. Our survival and wellness are contingent upon forming bonds from which we venture forth to view and become in the world. Research shows us that even when children’s physical requirements for survival �" such as food, clothing, and shelter �" are met, children who are deprived of social connection suffer from failure to thrive. As T. Berry Brazelton says, we need “emotional food” to secure our existence.Attachment
As early childhood educators we understand the importance of attachment. There are many occasions where I have challenged the assumption that the initial phase of a child’s orientation into a new program is about overcoming separation from their loved ones or caregivers. I think what children must do in this early stage of establishing their place in early childhood programs is more accurately described as forming attachments. As they develop connections �" attachments �" to caregivers within the early childhood environment they become better able to separate from the family bonds that previously created the glue that held them together. Children ...