Childcare and Education

Childcare and Education

Introduction

Various theories of psychology have proved that attachment holds immense and utmost importance in the cognitive development of human being, and the factor holds importance in all the phases of life. However, childhood is the most sensitive and vulnerable period of life where attachment plays the most essential role. A number of theories have described the importance of conscious parenting and the significance of mother child relationship that would be discussed in detail in the following paragraphs.

The nature of mother child relationship also affects the later life of the child and the behavior and attitude of child towards others. A number of maternal characteristics like depression and frustrations are found to have links with less care giving and lack of intimacy between mother and child. The detailed description of the phenomenon is described as follows:

Discussion

Attachment and Bonding

In psychological terms, attachment refers to the emotional relation between human beings, which affects their attitudes, behaviors as well as their thinking processes. The same process is also known as bonding, which is the development of close and impersonal relations between human beings. Generally, bonding takes place between family members and friends, however, other individuals like group members can also form bonds and develop attachment. It should be noted that bonding and attachment are more interactive and mutual process and are different from liking, which might be one sided as well. Attachment also occurs between mother and child or between spouses, and is characterized by emotions and sentiments such as affection and trust (Bruce and Meggitt, 2002).

Mothering and Sensitive Mothering

Mothering basically refers to the way of interaction of mother with her child. A number of researches have proved that the initial relation of mother and infant has the most far reaching and essential outcomes on the life of child, including his attitude and behavior towards the world and people around. The child's anti-social behavior and the behavioral issues and problems are also a result of improper or careless mothering, and thus can be avoided by proper and sensitive mothering.

Sensitive mothering refers to the more sensitive and highly calculated approach towards mothering, which involves addressing all the needs of the child and treating him gently, the way an infant must be treated. Researchers have shown that first year of child's life is the most essential period that requires sensitive mothering, and any deviation from the set norms can result in permanent behavioral and cognitive problems. Mothers with more sensitive approach, who show more responsiveness while interacting with the child and respond to the child's signals effectively, usually develop more adaptive and secure attachment with the child that places positive impact on the child's mental development. On the other hand, mothers with careless approach and less sensitive mothering, who reject the child too often and do not address his needs properly, usually develop an insecure bond with the child that causes some cognitive deformations in the child.

Furthermore, the mother and child relationship is the first and foremost relation formed by the child, ...