Nurturing Relationships

Healthy and positive human growth and

development depend on nurturing relationships.

There are 3 qualities of an effective nurturing caregiver:

1. Provide Comfort

2. Engage in Play

3. Teach and Guide

Provide Comfort

Children can become frustrated, anxious, or overwhelmed as they develop. Parents should:

•Acknowledge their discomfort•Offer an appropriate response•Examples: rocking a crying baby, offer calm words to an older child

Engage in Play

• Play exercises a growing body and mind while providing a way to express emotions, develop social abilities, and explore moral thinking.

• Parents who play with their child:• Contribute to their development• Strengthens the parent-child relationship

Teach and Guide

• Teaching provides children with the knowledge they need to accomplish important tasks at each developmental stage.

• Parental teaching of skills, knowledge, and attitudes moves children along in their development.

As children grow older, the nature of comforting, playing, and teaching

changes to remain appropriate for the child’s needs.

Group Work Activity•Divide yourself into groups of 2 or 3.

•When you have a group, have one member come get your supplies for this activity from Mrs. Shipp.

•You will need a piece of Scrap paper and 3 markers.

Your TaskUsing your assigned age group, come up with at least THREE examples for each

quality of an effective nurturing caregiver.

•Provide Comfort

•Engage in Play

•Teach and Guide

0-2 3-5 6-9 10-13Be prepared to share your work!

Attachment CyclesUnderstanding healthy and unhealthy attachment

Attachment

A close and affectionate bond between an infant and caregiver (parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, guardian)

… the primary caregiver is typically the mother (why?)

… is necessary for newborn survival

... is a reciprocal relationship necessary for healthy human development

... fathers may also form strong attachments when they are highly involved with their children (i.e. skin to skin)

• In the early years of life, children must learn to go through healthy attachment cycles through behaviours exhibited by their caregivers.

• Children with poor attachment behaviours are reacting to events in their early lives that may have included neglect or abuse.

• Due to these events, many children are unable to attach to a primary caregiver or go through normal development in order to function in future relationships.

Healthy Attachment Cycle

To summarize…

• When a baby has a need and signals that need by crying, the caregiver comes and soothes the baby – meeting its needs

• When this is repeated consistently, the baby learns to trust and develops appropriately

Unhealthy Attachment Cycle

To summarize…

• When baby’s needs are not met or are met inconsistently/ inappropriately, the baby does not learn to trust.

• This may also happen if the caregivers are inconsistent/ unfamiliar with the baby. This may confuse the baby.

• The baby learns that the world is an unsafe place.

Healthy Attachment means…

infants are able to quickly advance in all areas of development, but especially in verbal development and learning

sleeping and eating disorders are less common

children can handle their emotions better

Parents are less likely to abuse their children

a positive/healthy template for future intimate relationships

a basis for good mental health is established

Failure to Thrive

An inability to grow or develop due to neglect on the part of the caregivers

... during the Second World War, orphaned babies in hospitals turned their heads to the wall and died in spite of being fed and changed.

... however, in cases where a nurse/caregiver lifted children out of their cribs, and held them, even briefly, the infants did much better - they gained weight and reached developmental milestones.

Attachment Theorists

• Mary Ainsworth

• Harry Harlow

• John Bowlby

Mary Ainsworth

b.1913 – d.1999

American-Canadian developmental psychologist

Did a lot of early research around emotional attachment

Known for her work associated with “The Strange Situation” and her work in the development of the Attachment Theory.

Harry Harlow

b.1905 – d. 1981

American psychologist

Researched maternal-separation and social isolation

He conducted experiments using monkeys which demonstrated the importance of caregiving and companionship in development.

John Bowlby

b.1907 – d.1990

Was Ainsworth’s teacher

British psychologist, psychiatrist, and psychoanalyst

Recognized for his interest in child development and his early work in Attachment Theory

Mary Ainsworth

Found that healthy relationships were related to the level of responsiveness that moms showed towards their infants at a very young age

Created the “Strange Situation” experiment

“Strange Situation”

http://vimeo.com/35093357

A situation that tests individual differences in infants’ reactions to separations and reunions with their moms.

An observer takes a mother and 1 year old child to an unfamiliar room containing toys and then makes the mom leave and come back several times (one-way mirror).

Types of Reactions to Mom’s Return

SECURE - the child is distressed by mom’s departure and easily soothed by her on her return

AVOIDANT - the child is not distressed when mom leaves and avoids or turns away from her on return

ANXIOUS - the child stays extremely close to mom during the first few minutes and becomes highly distressed when she leaves. When she comes back, she seeks comfort and distance (simultaneously) from mom. She cries and reaches to be held and then tries to leave when she is picked up.

What is your attachment type?

• A. I find it relatively easy to get close to other people. I am comfortable depending on other people and having them depend on me. I don’t usually worry about being abandoned or about having someone get too close to me.

• B. I find it difficult to trust people completely. I am somewhat uncomfortable being close to others. I feel nervous when people start to get too close. Often, I feel like people want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being. I find it difficult to allow myself to depend on other people.

• C. I find that other people are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I often worry that someone I am close to doesn’t really love me or won’t want to stay with me. I want to merge completely with another person, and this sometimes scares people away.

Adapted from: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511-524.

Your attachment type is...

• A. Secure – Around half of adults have a secure attachment type. People with secure attachment types are likely to believe in romantic love which, although it might fizzle over the course of a relationship, can also remain very intense, as good as it was at the start.

Your attachment type is...

B. Avoidant- A quarter of adults have an avoidant attachment type. They are more likely to believe that romantic love doesn’t really exist, and that love doesn’t last forever. They tend to find it hard to find someone they can really fall in love with.

Your attachment type is...

C. Anxious- About a quarter of adults have an anxious attachment type. They are more likely to believe that romantic love doesn’t really exist, and that love doesn’t last forever. They find it harder (than secure types) to find someone they can love. They are more likely to fall in and out of love more often than secure or avoidant types.

Article: “Soothing Stranger Anxiety”

• Read through the article and answer the three questions at the bottom of the article.

1. What is stranger anxiety?

2. At what age does this typically occur?

3. What tips would you give a parent to help ease stranger anxiety?

ANSWER # 1

Stranger Anxiety is…

•Distress and concern when faced with a person who is not familiar to them.

• Possible behaviours: pouting, acting worried, crying, burying their heads in fear or disinterest

ANSWER # 2

• Stranger anxiety typically occurs between 6 months and 2 years of age.

ANSWER # 3

Ways to deal with Stranger Anxiety in new situations…

• Ensure they have their favourite blanket/toy • Let the “stranger” know their routine (including

special songs or books they read before naptime)• Encourage the “stranger” to hold your baby a lot

at the beginning• Act very warm and friendly with the teacher –

child may model the behaviour

Harry Harlow

Studied rhesus monkeys to see what would happen if they were separated from their mothers at an early age.

His research was conducted in the 1960’s.

What do you turn to when you are scared or upset?

llllllllllll

Experimental Conditions

Two “mother monkeys” were provided for the baby rhesus monkeys.

1) A wire framed like a “mother” monkey which held a bottle.

2) A wire framed like a “mother” covered with cloth and had no bottle.

http://vimeo.com/45085426

Conclusions

The young monkeys would feed from the bottle when hungry, but cuddled up with the fabric one for comfort, or clung to the cloth mother when frightened.

Monkeys who did not have the cloth-covered mother failed to grow (failure to thrive), even though food was available.

Therefore, his studies show the importance of touch and contact for the survival and growth of infants.

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IN YOUR NOTES IN A JOURNAL RESPONSE. DON’T STOP

WRITING UNTIL MRS. SHIPP STOPS YOU!

Rapid Writing Exercise

Consider what we have learned about so far this unit. Reflect on your own upbringing and current relationships.

•Describe the type of attachment you exhibit. •Why do you feel you are like this? •How does this affect your current relationships with peers, significant others, and/or parents? •What will you do the same and/or differently if you become a parent to promote healthy attachment behaviours.

John Bowlby

• Separation Behaviour

http://video.about.com/psychology/Who-Is-John-Bowlby-.htm

His ResearchConducted his studies in the 1960’s and 1970’s on children.

He found that children exhibit “attachment behaviours” and adults respond accordingly.

“Attachment behaviours”

Smiling

Clinging

Grabbing

These behaviours in children elicit responses from adults.

Touching

Holding

Soothing

Talking

In turn, this encourages these behaviours in the child.

This is called the feedback circuit.

Feedback Circuit

This interplay of attachment gives children security to move forward in their development.

SmilingSmilingTouching Touching

or or HoldingHolding

SmilingSmiling

SeparationWhen the children in Ainsworth’s research were separated from their mothers, how did they react?

Bowlby looked at children between 8 months and 3 years who were separated from their caregivers.

He found that they went through THREE STAGES OFSEPARATION BEHAVIOUR.

What might these behaviours be?

Stage 1:

___________: crying, searching for caregiver, throwing a tantrum

PROTEST

PROTEST

Stage 2:

__________: the child becomes very quiet (loss of hope)DESPAIR

DESPAIR

Stage 3:

_______________: the child withdraws as though cut off from the world

Securely attached children: are able to move beyond the detachment stage and become more active and interactive.

Less secure children: may go so far as to withdraw by crawling under a table.

DETACHMENT

DETACHMENT

Think – Pair – Share

Brainstorm ways that parents can reconnect with their children after they pick them up from child care, nursery school, or a weekend visit with relatives.

Nature vs. Nurture

why we are who we are

Form a group of 3-4 people and assign one person as the recorder/presenter, and two or three contributors.

Brainstorm “What determines your likes, dislikes, and personality characteristics.”

Group Work

Something to think about…

Imagine being locked in a room since birth and rarely seeing other

people or daylight.

How do you think you would turn out?

The Secret of a Wild Child

• http://wn.com/Secret_of_the_Wild_child_part_4#/videos

Nature

Implies biology is responsible for your behaviour

Your genetic make-up decides what kind of person you are

You are born with these traits and they cannot be changed

Implies that your environment is responsible for who you are

Your traits are determined by the people you associate with, organizations you belong to, and the institutions within your society

Environmental and external influences

Nurture

Biological or Environmental Influences on Development?

Listen to the following research article titles. Indicate in your notes if they imply nature or nurture.

Father-Daughter Relationship Crucial to When Girls Develop

Hypothyroidism During Pregnancy Linked to Baby’s Lower IQ

Genetics is a Key Factor in Speech Learning

Formula Additives Boost Small Children’s Intelligence in Study

Television Can Enhance Children’s Intellectual Development

Birth Order Affects Career Interests

NurtureNatureNature

NurtureNurture

Nature

Organize your Group Work into two categories...

NATURE NURTURE

The results ...Although the concept of “environment” typically refers to a human beings surroundings after birth, environmental influences are in play from the moment of conception - if not actually before with the mother and father’s own health.

Therefore, BOTH environment (nurture) and biology (nature) are impacting the baby within the womb.

After birth, the influence of Nature and Nurture becomes a greater debate.

Nature and Nurture Assignment

• Complete the assignment using family photos or through conversations with your family members.

• DUE: Monday, October 7th, 2013

Twin StudiesSome of the most conclusive research has studied identical and fraternal twins who were raised apart.

Fraternal: product of two eggs fertilized at the same time

Identical: product of one egg that divides during gestation.

• Scientists have been able to determine whether characteristics such as personality traits, talents, and occupational preferences are a result of environment or genes.

• http://video.foxnews.com/v/1714028783001/nature-vs-nurture-new-twin-study-sparks-debate/

Identical twins, separated at birth and each raised by one of

their biological parents, discover each other for

the first time at summer camp.

Twin Studies Article

Read through the article and answer the following questions in your notes:

1. Are the twins similar or different? Name any relevant similarities listed between the separated twins.

2. Does this imply that nature or nurture plays a greater role in their personality development?

Outcome of Twin Studies

• Similar characteristics among identical twins reared apart might indicate that the environment does not play the biggest role.

• If identical twins raised in different homes have many similarities and fraternal twins raised apart have nothing in common, scientists can conclude that genes are more important than environment in determining personality traits.

In Conclusion...

It’s obvious that we will never be able to have a clear distinction between what influences us most, nature or nurture, but most likely ...

“Mother nature has plainly not entrusted the determination of our intellectual capacities to the blind fate of genes. She gave us parents, learning, language, culture and education to program ourselves with ...” (Ridley 1999).

What is this a picture of?Brain scans of 3-year

olds

Both nature and nurture impact the brain structure and development.

NATURE NURTURE

As humans, our brains are biologically programmed

to develop.

Researchers have noticed an increase in brain development

every time a caregiver responds to a baby.

SINGING

PLAYINGTOUCHING

TALKING

TEACHING

A LOOK AT THE EFFECTS OF NATURE AND NURTURE

Synaptic Density in the Human Brain

Deprived of a stimulating environment, a child’s brain suffers. Researchers have found that children who don’t play much or are rarely touched develop brains 20-20% smaller than normal for their age. Laboratory animals provide another provocative parallel. Not only do young rats reared in toy-strewn cages exhibit more complex behaviour than rats confined to sterile, uninteresting boxes, but the brains of these rats contain as many as 25% more synapes per neuron.

Excerpt from: Fertile Minds

What does this tell us?

Rich experiences really do produce rich brains

Infant brain development during the first years of life depends on that infant’s environmental experience

The brain develops according to the quantity and quality of the stimuli it receives

Daily exercise increases nerve connections in the brain; making it easier for children to learn

The more words kids hear by age 2, the larger their vocabulary will grow

Toddlers who are taught simple math ideas (i.e. bigger/smaller), do better in math when they are older

Early music lessons help develop skills which later improve a child’s decision making ability

Patterns of behaviour and emotional responses set in the early years are very difficult to change or make up for in other ways

1. Explain Elizabeth’s situation at the start of the video.

2. Explain Elizabeth’s development by the end of the video.

3. When does the brain begin forming?

4. What are some of the long-term effects of being born premature?

5. Explain Holly’s condition and development.

Un

it 1

Tes

t O

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• Short answer [10 marks]• Answered on foolscap

• True or False [12 marks]• Answered on scantron card

• Matching [9 marks]• Answered on scantron card

• Multiple Choice [17 marks]• Answered on scantron card

October 29th, 2013

Characteristics of Development i.e. Development builds on earlier learning

Types of Development physical, social, emotional, cognitive, moral

Nurturing Relationships Provide comfort, teach and guide, engage in play

Attachment Failure to thrive Stranger anxiety

Attachment Cycles Healthy and unhealthy cycles

Attachment Theorists Mary Ainsworth

Strange situation Attachment types

Harry Harlow Rhesus monkey experiments

John Bowlby Feedback circuit Separation Behaviours

Top

ics

to S

tudy

Nature vs. Nurture Twin Studies

Brain Development Films

The Secret of the Wild Child Wider Than the Sky Babies

1. Name the FIVE characteristics of development.

2. Provide an example of THREE of the characteristics of development.

1. Name and describe the FIVE types of development.

1. Name the THREE qualities of nurturing caregivers.

2. How do these qualities differ if you are parenting an infant or a school-aged child?

1. Define attachment.

2. Draw a healthy attachment cycle.

3. Explain the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy attachment cycle.

4. The ultimate goal of healthy attachment is to develop __________.

5. What are THREE long-term effects of healthy attachment?

6. Describe failure to thrive.

1. Name the THREE attachment theorists we learned about.

2. Use ONE word or phrase to describe each theorist.

1. Name and describe the experiment that she created.

2. What were the results of her research?

1. What is stranger anxiety?

2. What behaviours are associated with it?

3. How can a caregiver soothe a child who is experiencing stranger anxiety?

1. Describe his research.

2. What were the results of his research?

3. What does his research tell us about love and attachment?

1. Name TWO examples of attachment behaviours that children exhibit.

2. What is the feedback circuit?

3. Name and describe the THREE stages of separation behaviour.

1. What is the difference between nature and nurture?

2. What is the significance of identical twin studies to the nature-nurture debate?

3. What effect does nature and nurture have on brain development?

1. Explain how a nurturing environment helps enrich one’s cognitive development.

2. Name THREE reasons why the early years are so important.