Page 113 - Čotar Konrad Sonja, Borota Bogdana, Rutar Sonja, Drljić Karmen, Jelovčan Giuliana. Ur. 2022. Vzgoja in izobraževanje predšolskih otrok prvega starostnega obdobja. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem
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The Importance of Preschool Teacher-Child
Attachment for Healthy Childhood
Development
Petra Dolenc
University of Primorska
petra.dolenc@pef.upr.si
The last decades have seen a growing interest in researching preschool
teacher-child relationships, particularly how the quality of attachment to a
teacher impacts children’s overall development. In this context, preschool
teachers represent an important figure who, away from home environment,
provide care, physical security, and emotional support. This article offers an
overview of relevant studies dealing with various aspects of attachment at
an early age, highlighting the importance of preschool teacher-child attach-
ment quality for children’s developmental outcomes. Secondly, the article of-
fers some suggestions for promoting secure relationships in early childhood
education, especially during settling a child into the kindergarten environ-
ment.
Keywords: attachment theory, preschool teacher-child relationships, early
childhood education
Attachment and Attachment Theory
Attachment theory developed by John Bowlby (2005) is one of the better-
known theories of contemporary developmental psychology. It assumes
that infants need a consistent nurturing relationship with one or more sensi-
tive caregivers in order to develop into healthy individuals. Positive ad close
relationships in early years are predictive of later social competence and
mental health and resilience in children (World Health Organization 2004;
Winston and Chicot 2016) Inappropriate relationships are considered to con-
tribute to aberrant behavior and in combination with other risk factors to
psychopathology (Rosmalen, Van der Veer and Horst 2015).
Attachment can be defined as a strong and reciprocally positive relation-
ship between two people (Marjanovič Umek and Zupančič 2009). An affec-
tionate bond between a child and his or her caregiver (usually a parent), is
established based on innate signals that an infant uses to seek proximity of
another person at times of distress. On the other hand, the caregiver has also
got an inherent capacity to respond to child’s specific signals, providing both
Čotar Konrad, S., B. Borota, S. Rutar, K. Drljić in G. Jelovčan, ur. 2022. Vzgoja in izobraževanje
predšolskih otrok prvega starostnega obdobja. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem.
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-134-6.113-124
Attachment for Healthy Childhood
Development
Petra Dolenc
University of Primorska
petra.dolenc@pef.upr.si
The last decades have seen a growing interest in researching preschool
teacher-child relationships, particularly how the quality of attachment to a
teacher impacts children’s overall development. In this context, preschool
teachers represent an important figure who, away from home environment,
provide care, physical security, and emotional support. This article offers an
overview of relevant studies dealing with various aspects of attachment at
an early age, highlighting the importance of preschool teacher-child attach-
ment quality for children’s developmental outcomes. Secondly, the article of-
fers some suggestions for promoting secure relationships in early childhood
education, especially during settling a child into the kindergarten environ-
ment.
Keywords: attachment theory, preschool teacher-child relationships, early
childhood education
Attachment and Attachment Theory
Attachment theory developed by John Bowlby (2005) is one of the better-
known theories of contemporary developmental psychology. It assumes
that infants need a consistent nurturing relationship with one or more sensi-
tive caregivers in order to develop into healthy individuals. Positive ad close
relationships in early years are predictive of later social competence and
mental health and resilience in children (World Health Organization 2004;
Winston and Chicot 2016) Inappropriate relationships are considered to con-
tribute to aberrant behavior and in combination with other risk factors to
psychopathology (Rosmalen, Van der Veer and Horst 2015).
Attachment can be defined as a strong and reciprocally positive relation-
ship between two people (Marjanovič Umek and Zupančič 2009). An affec-
tionate bond between a child and his or her caregiver (usually a parent), is
established based on innate signals that an infant uses to seek proximity of
another person at times of distress. On the other hand, the caregiver has also
got an inherent capacity to respond to child’s specific signals, providing both
Čotar Konrad, S., B. Borota, S. Rutar, K. Drljić in G. Jelovčan, ur. 2022. Vzgoja in izobraževanje
predšolskih otrok prvega starostnega obdobja. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem.
https://doi.org/10.26493/978-961-293-134-6.113-124
