Rethinking attachment: fostering positive relationships between infants, toddlers and their primary caregivers

Abstract

This article provides a synthesis of current theory and research in relation to attachment between infants/toddlers and their caregivers. Worldwide statistics show that there are a significant number of women working in the global labour market. In Australia, recent research also found that over 300,000 children aged 0–5 years are currently attending long day child care, and a child can spend up to 12,500 hours in child care before starting school (based on attendance of 50 hours per week for five years). In order to understand the importance of developing secure relationships that build on the first transition from home to child‐care centre, semi‐structured interviews were conducted to collect views from parents and child‐care staff. Results showed that most participants in the sample were in favour of using a primary caregiver approach. Implications for the implementation of this approach will be discussed.