Session 9/15

Work plan: Things to do before the next session

CHECKLIST FOR UNDERSTANDING

• What may cause insecure attachment behaviour in children?
• How do you recognize avoidant attachment behaviour?
• How can you act professionally towards avoidant behaviour?
• How do you recognize ambivalent attachment behaviour?
• How can you act professionally towards ambivalent behaviour?
• How do you recognize disorganized attachment behaviour?
• How can you act professionally towards disorganized behaviour?
• At which age of the child’s do you have the best chances of helping it develop secure attachments?

“I had a child that constantly hurt the other kids and the materials. He changed a little bit when I used the techniques that I learnt through this session. Sometimes, I feel like he is still testing me and waiting for a mistake.”
Caregiver’s statement

THINGS TO DO BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION

Describe a child in your care who, in many daily relations, shows either:

• Avoidant
• Ambivalent
• Disorganised behaviour

Reflect on your reactions when the child acts like this. When is it difficult to act securely (for example when the child may be provoking or avoiding contact, etc.). Discuss and write down how you will meet each of the three insecure attachment responses in children. Discuss how you can practice this in your daily work until next session. Please write down your observations of what you do differently, and how the children respond to the way you care for them.

Please re-read the descriptions of the typical behavioural characteristics with insecure attachment (you can also watch the video again) and consider the following:

• Which attachment strategies your child seems to exhibit. It is most clear in the beginning of the relationship with the foster parents, or in an everyday situation where the child is feeling insecure, overwhelmed or scared.
• Has the child’s attachment strategies changed throughout the relationship with its foster parents? Is the child able to handle more strain before he or she falls back into old patterns such as distrust or lack of faith in the fact that someone will help them? Does the child on a more frequent basis express positive perceptions of him/herself and his/her relationships? How early did we receive the child in our care? (This is also relevant when looking at how easy it is for the child to develop towards a more secure attachment).

Thank you for your interest and good luck with your work until next session!