Attachment and Trust, Building Relationships

Balancing Attachment and Independence

Your child is balancing his growing independence with his need to be supported and comforted by you. As a result, as he runs off to explore a new playground or friend's house, he will still check in with you, making sure that everything is okay. Just look at him with approval, give a warm smile, or a big high-five. Praise him when he shows positive social behavior, such as sharing, calling someone by their name, or making a good choice. And if he's still coping with stranger anxiety at this age, be sure to let him meet new people at his own pace and on his own terms. This will help build his trust in unfamiliar people and in you, as well, for letting him approach strangers when he's ready.

Has your child achieved the following Building Relationships and Attachment and Trust developmental milestones yet? If yes, check off all the skill(s) he has already mastered to date!