Observing Children with Attachment Difficulties in Preschool Settings

This book is a really comprehensive guide to observing, assessing and working with children with attachment issues in early years… Written specifically with preschool settings in mind, it makes reference to the importance of the key person approach and provides good, practical ideas on how this can be used to support children with these difficulties. — Teach Nursery

[W]ith increasing numbers of [staff] now becoming aware of the impact of relational trauma and loss upon the capacities of children in their care, tools such as those recommended here are welcomed. This book provides clear descriptors of some of the possible vulnerabilities around for these children and a framework through which to make sense of these vulnerabilities with an attachment focus… Dr Golding and her colleagues have made a significant contribution to inclusive practice by contributing this book.’

Much of what these children need to learn can’t be learnt alone through text books. They need you and me. Relationships matter. Let’s take up our responsibility in ensuring that these children experience healthy secure attachment in our care so that they can be all that they can and want to be, making valuable contributions towards our shared society.

— From the Foreword by Louise Bombèr, Attachment Support Teacher Therapist

Such a clear and comprehensive work by Kim Golding et al! It is certain to greatly inform the work of those engaged with children in preschool settings. This book makes a compelling case that before we evaluate and develop support for children with emotional and social difficulties we must first observe and understand them. This understanding is heavily influenced by Attachment Theory, which is the most widely held theory of child development that we have. The authors also provide us with a very comprehensive Observation Checklist in order to organize our observations and develop the most effective support plan. Finally, they offer excellent examples of such support plans that will serve as guides for those who are formulating similar plans for these vulnerable children in their preschool settings. Well done! — Daniel A. Hughes, Ph.D., Licenced Psychologist and author of Building the Bonds of Attachment, 2nd edition

I work across many schools and settings as a play therapist and Dr Golding and colleagues’ book has been extremely helpful for practitioners new to attachment focused interventions. I am never without a copy! — Clare Forshaw, BAPT Play Therapist