Creating Secure Attachment

Key Takeaways:

• Secure attachment is about connection, warmth, and responsiveness, not perfection.
• Parents breaking generational patterns may struggle, but healing past wounds helps build secure bonds.
• Ruptures are normal; repair is key—children learn trust when caregivers acknowledge and mend disconnection.
• Toddlerhood brings boundaries and exploration, and allowing safe risks fosters resilience.
• Overprotection limits growth—children learn through experiencing the world.
• Parental self-regulation matters—stay attuned rather than overreacting or underreacting.

Experiential Exercise:

• The “Dog-Greeting Rule” – Show visible delight when reuniting with your child (after sleep, school, time apart) to reinforce their sense of being wanted and loved.