BABIES CAN’T WAIT February 2005

Terrie Rose, Ph.D.

HARRIS CENTERUniversity of Minnesota

• Questions About Kids

• Summer Courses

• www.harristraingcenter.org

Amazing and VulnerablePrenatal to 3

“there is suggestive evidence that young children compared with older children may be particularly vulnerable to very detrimental experiences that derive from aberrant caregiving and serious economic hardship.”

From Neurons to Neighborhoods, National Academy of Science

Every day moments last a life time

Attachment Theory

Attachment theory is a way of understanding how the early caregiving relationship supports early development and how the defining characteristics of a particular relationships are incorporated into a child’s sense of self and is carried forward into subsequent relationships.

Alan Sroufe

Sensitive care felt security confident, connected

Secure Attachment

Prepared by Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D.

A SECURE FOUNDATIONSecure Attachment

• Feeling of security in relationship becomes a part of the sense of self.

• Research shows that securely attached children move into the world with more self confidence and are more likely to do well in school and in relationships to come.

Prepared by Terrie Rose, Ph.D.

Attachment Statistics

General Population

Among high-risk families

Prepared by Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D.

Anxious Resistant Attachment

Erratic care preoccupied, hesitant anxious, dependent

Prepared by Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D.

Anxious Avoidant Attachment

Unresponsive care distant, flat aggressive, lacks empathy

Prepared by Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D.

The second day of child care

Link to Stress Reactions

• One year olds at the doctors office are better able to handle everyday stress with a warm and sensitive caregiver

• Toddlers exposed to live clown, same behaviors – differences in elevations of stress hormone Research by Megan

Gunnar

Considering the Factors

Parent Child

Environment

Strengths for Babies

• Cuteness Factor

• Typical development

• Temperament

Challenges for Babies

• Exposure to alcohol or illicit drugs in utero

• Poorly organized sleep and eating

• Colic

• Temperament

• Disability

A SECURE FOUNDATIONSecure Attachment

• Feeling of security in relationship becomes a part of the sense of self.

• Research shows that securely attached children move into the world with more self confidence and are more likely to do well in school and in relationships to come.

Prepared by Terrie Rose, Ph.D.

Creating Early Environments That Support Young Children

• Plan for transitions, predictable daily routines – using bridging songs to help children develop internal control and regulation.

• Create environments (through careful adult scaffolding) that allow children to be successful

• Recognizes child’s ability to signal needs

• Accurately interprets cues and signals

• Responds contingently

• Is consistent and predictable over time

Sensitivity

Prepared by Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D.

• Detachment, unavailability

• Misinterpretation of cues and signals

• Intrusiveness

(may stem from erroneous beliefs, lack of knowledge, unwillingness to respond, and or inability to respond because of personal stress or depression)

Insensitivity

Prepared by Martha Farrell Erickson, Ph.D.

EXPECTATION FOR RESPONSIVENESS

Video Clip

MATERNAL AMBIVALENCE

• Maternal ambivalence as a typical reaction to the early months of parenting, especially under dire circumstances.

• -Sarah Blaffer Hrdy

Prepared by Terrie Rose, Ph.D.

Parenting Challenges

• Severe Stress and Chaos

• Maternal Ambivalence

• Untreated and Untreatable Mental Illness

BABY’S SPACE

Opportunities for babies and families to be cared for in typical ways

Terrie Rose, Ph.DIrving B. Harris Center for Infant and Toddler DevelopmentInstitute of Child DevelopmentUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolis, MN 55455(612)626-8625trose@umn.eduhttp://harristrainingcenter.org