Are you aware of the concept of attachment parenting? Read on to learn about what is attachment parenting and its benefits.Attachment parenting is a concept still not clearly known to many people. In fact, it is all about having a close bond with your children. Many people are of the opinion that attachment parenting requires parents to be self-sacrificing and they feel that children raised with attachment are shy and clingy. In reality, both these popular concepts are not true.
All parents want to have strong emotional bonding with their kids. They want to have a
parenting style that helps their children learn values and
raise good human beings. Today, there are so many types of parenting that to decide what to adopt becomes difficult for new parents.
What is Attachment Parenting?
Attachment parenting can be traced back since 1950s. The main intention was to fulfil basic needs of kids and one of the most important ones is
safety. Children feel safe when they are with you because they know that you will protect them. This is the starting point of developing a secure attachment of your child to you.
Principles of Attachment Parenting
Have a quick look at the principals of attachment parenting.
Prepare Yourself
Prepare yourself for pregnancy, child birth and parenting beforehand. This will help you get ready for the emotionally and physically demanding task of parenting much before the child comes in his world.
Breastfeed Your Child
Breastfeed your child as this not only fulfils her physical requirement, but also creates a secure attachment.
Respond to Your Child
Respond to your child with warmth and understanding even if it is dealing with tantrums.
Hug Your Child
Nurturing touch also plays a major role. Keep your child as close to you as possible. Show your love though hugs and kisses.
Be Available
Be available for your child always. Help your child with homework and be involved in her academics. Be present for her annual day gathering or football match.
Model Positive Parenting
Model
positive parenting by understanding your child’s negative behaviour by communicating and finding a solution together.
Maintain Right Balance
Do your best to have a balance in your personal and family life. Pay attention to healthy living.
Benefits of Attachment Parenting
Here are some of the benefits of attachment parenting.
- It helps keep babies calm. The children trust their parents because of the secure attachment that is established.
- Children have good emotional and physical health.
- Kids stay calm even during stressful situations.
- Securely attached children are more independent than other kids and are not clingy unlike the popular myth.
- Kids are closer to their parents and feel more confident in exploring the world. They know that their parents will be there for them always.
- It helps children score higher and have better IQ because attachment parenting takes into learning at the most crucial time, which is during infancy when your child’s brain is developing at the fastest speed.
- It keeps children relaxed and less stressed which keeps them in an ideal situation to learn and thrive.
- You experience peaceful parenting. When you breastfeed your child there is a soothing effect on you too. You comfort her with the warmth of your body.
- Attachment parenting also makes a better you. You learn to understand the language of needs and start thinking at your child’s level. Mutual giving and mutual shaping makes this parenting all the more special.
- It improves child’s behaviour and development. Kids raised with attachment parenting are smarter than others.
It is only when the child is born till she is too young that she needs your physical closeness so that she feels safe. When she grows she will have her friends, but she will know that her parents are always there for her.
What are the advantages of attachment parenting? How can attachment parenting aid child’s growth and development? What are the principles of attachment parenting? Discuss here.