Secure attachment

Secure attachment occurs when a caregiver is attentive to the needs of the child. The caregiver recognizes the child’s signals of hunger and other simple biological needs but also responds to emotional signals from the child for attention, a cuddle or soothing after an upset, like falling down when learning to walk. It’s not necessary that every need be met, but that most of the time the child has a growing sense that if he/she needs help, help will come.

Over the course of childhood this security allows the developing brain to build good connections, the child is able to learn to trust and therefore have a sense for developing trusting relationships.