How to Help Your Child Build Attachment

Using these tools, parents can help their adopted and foster children develop healthy attachments to their families. Once family attachments are secure, attachments to others develop more easily.

Allow them time to adjust.
Help them set goals, and chart their progress with them.
Help them learn appropriate ways to express their feelings.
Help them accept and deal with any developmental delays.
Help them learn the relationship between cause and effect.
Help them understand and express their own feelings.
Help them learn to get along with others.
Help them feel good about themselves and their strengths.
Help them develop a conscience and feel remorse.
Be consistent. Routines can be very reassuring.
Be expressive with your love and encouragement.

Tips:

Sometimes, it may be appropriate to seek outside support with attachment problems through support groups, social workers, counselors, play groups, or doctors.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. It doesn't reflect on your parenting skills and shows your determination to get needed support for your child.

Comments

Attachment is a word that is thrown around when you have adopted and foster children. It is important to realize that attachment is a gradual process rather than an instantaneous one. This article gives some good ways for you to help you and your child to build that attachment. Asking for help early is a very important piece of advice. The earlier you get your child help for attachment disorders, the better off your entire family will be. Staying in contact with physicians and therapists will give you the support you need, as well as joining a support group. Having that support system will help you make it through anything.

Posted by: culinary at 12/06/2005 05:37 AM

View all comments (1)

Add Your Comments!

We want to know what you think. Your comments are important to us and the other readers. You are what makes this site special.