Consistent Relationships Matter

In presenting the "principles of child development and learning that inform practice," in Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs, authors Carol Copple and Sue Bredekamp note the importance of secure, consistent relationships with responsive adults:

"From the earliest years of life, warm, nurturing relationships with responsive adults are necessary for many key areas of children's development, including empathy and cooperation, self-regulation and cultural socialization, language and communication, peer relationships, and identity formation.  When children and caring adults have the opportunity to get to know each other well, they learn to predict each other's signals and behavior and establish attunement and trust.  The first and most important relationships are those a child forms with parents or other primary caregivers.  Forming one or more such attachments sets the stage for other relationships, as children move into the wider world beyond their immediate family.

"Young children benefit from the opportunities to develop ongoing, trusting relationships with adults outside the family and with other children.  Notably, positive teacher-child relationships promote children's learning and achievement, as well as social competence and emotional development."

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