Developing Secure Attachment Through Play

More about the book

This resource offers imaginative play-based activities aimed at helping vulnerable young children establish secure attachments with their caregivers. It addresses key developmental stages that may have been overlooked due to difficult life circumstances, including social-emotional growth, object permanence, and physical and sensory development. The text delves into issues such as trauma, separation, loss, and transition, providing a theoretical framework followed by case studies that illustrate practical applications of the concepts. Key features include 80 activities suitable for home or educational settings that promote attachment and social-emotional development, along with case vignettes highlighting creative approaches like mirroring, construction play, and messy play. It also provides scripts and strategies for creating a safe environment for vulnerable children, along with photocopiable resources such as early learning goals, therapeutic stories, and a transition calendar. By engaging in these activities, parents, caregivers, and practitioners can help children develop a sense of belonging and boost their self-esteem. This book serves as a valuable resource for early years practitioners, adoptive, foster, and kinship parents, as well as therapists and social workers working with young children.