Session 1/13

Topic introduction of attachment and loss: What do we know about this? Can we use this knowledge in our work?

In children who have lost their parents you often see behaviour problems (clinging constantly to a caregiver, having fits of rage, being disobedient, being destructive or apathetic, refuse to eat or eat constantly) and bad moods (feeling alone, depressed, angry, worthless). These behaviours can only be understood if you know how children react to a loss of caregivers, and how they try to overcome this by developing ways of coping with it.

The best way to understand this is to help each other make a map of how each staff member experienced early care in life, and how he or she tried to overcome it. Separation from caregivers does not only have negative effects, separations also make us stronger and creative in finding new ways to overcome the strains of life. Difficult separations happen to everyone who is attached to someone, it is part of life.