Early childhood is a time for developing the capacity to regulate emotions, forming bonds in relationships and exploring one's environment. Primary tasks during this time are centered around establishing trust and security in the world. Events that interfere with the ability to do so will disrupt development during this time. It is the responsibility of parents, families and caregivers to provide young children the necessary support for healthy development during this critical time of early childhood.
Attachment
Feeling safe and secure in relationships with primary caregivers is central to early childhood development. Levels of attachment and the quality of the relationships developed in infancy through to the age of five affect many areas of development. Attachment affects how well a child is able to form lasting relationships with others, self-confidence and empathy. If attachment is disrupted, such as is often the case in abused or traumatized children, relationships are perceived as dangerous. The child may exhibit a lack of trust in relationships, inhibition, and ambivalent and/or disorganized behavior.
Temperament
Identifying the type of temperament in the child helps determine how she will consistently respond to life events. There are three main types of temperament: easy/flexible, spirited/difficult and slow to warm up. Temperament affects how children develop in terms of relationships with others, learning and experiences in school or daycare settings. Differences in parent and child temperaments may result in difficulties or power struggles; caution with parenting techniques is necessary to prevent disruptions in the parent/child bond.
Stress and Trauma
Undergoing high levels of stress or traumatic experiences during early childhood impacts development. Examples of stress and trauma with possible impact on children includes abuse, neglect, violence, poverty, natural disasters, death or illness in the family. Childhood illness is very stressful itself. Negative experiences cause chemical changes to occur in the brain including an increase in stress hormones. This, in turn, causes the brain to remain in highly activated states of fight or flight. Long-term effects of trauma experienced in early childhood include mental and physical health problems and at-risk behavior, including substance abuse, aggression or delinquency.
