The Attachment Connection: Parenting a Secure & Confident Child Using the Science of Attachment Theory

by Ruth P. Newton

Studies in the 1950s revealed that young children hospitalized without their parents respond first by crying for them, then by showing signs of despair, and finally by emotionally detaching from the parents and acting indifferent to their absence. This detachment is hard to repair and highly detrimental to a child's development-most children who feel they cannot rely on their parents grow up to become more emotionally insecure and less self-assured...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572245204
• ISBN13: 9781572245204
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Best book to address baby's emotional and development needs

This is my first book review ever, because this book is so good I wanted other new parents to take advantage of it. If you are a data-driven person who wants to understand WHY and HOW you should parent, this book is it. After reading it, I feel I have a strong theoretical framework that I can apply to my parenting, instead of blindly following rules of thumb. By offering real life and clinical examples of what can go wrong and what "right" should look like, Newton really is able to teach through this book. I also appreciated the easy reference sidebars that address specific issues (typical behavior and ideas for what I can do w/ baby) for each age group. Two other notable sets of content: the book includes 1) good discussions on Dads and how they contribute to parenting, and 2) the last chapter on childcare. Although the chapter mainly says that there are a lot of open questions on the impact of different types of childcare on children's development, the fact that Newton addressed this question with the data available to date is super helpful and eye-opening. I borrowed this book from the library first and have since bought a copy myself, as I can see myself referring to it from now (age 9 weeks) throughout toddlerhood. If you are a new parent, you know you get a ton of advice from every direction, this book is going to help you stay sane, centered, and confident about your actions and the choices you make.

brilliant book

This is the best parent's book I have read, by far. Great real life examples that illustrate attached/secure child behavior vs traumatized/troubled. Excellent attention given the the why's behind creating a secure attachment with your child. The book really opened my eyes to the importance of attachment, it seems like a given, but the author really digs into the psychological effect of failing to have that secure attachment. I've been doing a lot of therapy work and learning how addiction/self esteem issues/codependency can come out of failing to feel secure/loved/attached/worthwhile/valued. This book will help you create that secure attachment every child needs. Some chapters are broken out by age pre-baby, newborn, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years and has suggested games to play with your little one, a section on milestones & brain development. Loved this book, I am going to give it to my friend's who are expecting. There is a great section on father/mother relationships and pregnancy, going back to work and the psychological impact that all of these things can have on your child.

Must read

As a practicing counselor for over 20 years I find this book presents relevant data and practical suggestions every parent and therapist should consider. Written in style that is simply honest.

Pertinent to all Child Caretakers

Dr. Newton's book is beautifully written to enable a layperson to move quickly from the basic theory of attachment to the intricacies of how different skill levels of care-taking and attachment building can affect a child's brain development and emotional regulation skills over a lifetime. Part of Dr. Newton's research has taken place at one of the largest homeless shelters in CA, whose population includes close to 200 children and their families. She has developed a wide array of observational and interactive tools to assess attachment between parent and child, and to create parenting classes, dyadic therapy, and many other interventions when she and her skilled team determine that attachment has not developed positively and the child is struggling along a spectrum of dysregulated behaviors. Dr. Newton's book shows that she is a brilliant and creative theorist as well as a professional who is keenly empathic toward children and their primary caretakers.

The Attachment Connection

Dr. Newton's book is a gift to anyone who wants to have a meaningful understanding about the importance of parental bonding and non-verbal communication with infants. She has written a book that not only illustrats the life long impact and importance of the childs attachment to its primary care giver, but she gives the reader easy tools and methods to accomplsh the goal. Her writing style is poetic and lyrical. A truly extraordinary read!