Rethinking attachment for early childhood practice: Promoting security, autonomy and resilience in young children.
By Sharne A Rolfe (Crows Nest: Allen and Unwin, 1865085189, 15.54)
Reviewed by Helen Barrett, chair of the International Attachment Network This book distils findings of key importance to childcare workers from the huge body of attachment research. Clearly written and beautifully organised, it provides an excellent introduction to attachment theory and suggests how it might be applied in early years settings.
Each chapter provides an overview, with case illustrations of fundamental ideas about the nature of attachment relationships, followed by questions to guide reflection and discussion. Topics covered include the assessment and significance of attachment relationships in early childhood and beyond, factors that encourage and promote the development of resilience and autonomy, adult attachment issues and cultural considerations.
Readers are invited to rethink their understandings of attachment theory, relate them to more recent research and think about how findings might apply to daycare settings.