application: developing an attachment friendly environment

Question 1

What are some strengths of nursery?

Answer 1

• language and cognitive skills improve

Question 2

What are some weaknesses of nursery?

Answer 2

• babies in daycare were found to be more aggressive and disobedient later in life - greater risk taking and more impulsive (drugs and alcohol)
• anxiety hormone cortisol increases at daycare
• having less time at home makes children 3 times more likely to show behaviour problems compared to children who spend more time at home - less attached

Question 3

How can nursery’s be made more attachment friendly?

Answer 3

• nap time to decrease cortisol
• a specific key worker to act as a secure base
• routines - learn to trust caregiver to be responsive to needs
• parents come into the nursery for activities e.g., teddy bear picnics (when first starting to promote exploratory behaviour)
• half days
• prioritise children in care - who have no secure base when they leave nursery
• horizontal attachments to older children

Question 4

How can hospitals be made to be more attachment friendly?

Answer 4

• same nurse / key worker - form attachments
• visiting hours more flexible and allow overnight stays
• children’s only wards - designed to be visually appealing with bright colours

Question 5

How can schools be designed to be more attachment friendly?

Answer 5

• same teachers / timetable / head of year / form teacher
• prioritise children who need a secure base the most - no friends or in care or adopted
• regularly change seating plans / often use group work
• attachment aware programmes