Building secure attachments
Giving and receiving care
Children develop secure attachments through relationships where they experience care and gradually learn to care for others.
- Caring relationships help children feel loved, valued and important.
- Children learn to care for others by first experiencing care themselves.
- Everyday acts of kindness strengthen relationships and build empathy.
- Giving and receiving care helps children develop positive relationships throughout life.
Through a child's eyes...
“When people care for me, I learn how to care for others.”
In everyday moments...
Children experience care in many small but meaningful ways throughout the day. These experiences help children understand that caring is a natural part of relationships.
Simple ideas to try
- Comforting a friend who is upset.
- Helping someone with a task.
- Sharing a hug, smile or kind word.
- Caring for pets, plants or treasured belongings.
Building through relationships...
Warm, caring relationships help children develop empathy, kindness and consideration for others. Feeling cared for provides the foundation for caring about others.
Simple ideas to try
- Show warmth through everyday interactions.
- Model kindness and compassion.
- Notice and acknowledge caring behaviours.
- Encourage children to help and support others.
Learning through play...
Play provides opportunities for children to practise kindness, cooperation and caring in meaningful ways. Shared play experiences help children develop empathy and consideration for others.
Simple ideas to try
- Encourage caring roles in dramatic play.
- Model kindness during shared play.
- Support cooperative games and experiences.
- Celebrate thoughtful and caring interactions.
Creating supportive spaces...
Environments that encourage cooperation and shared responsibility help children experience caring relationships every day. Thoughtfully designed places also create opportunities for children to help and contribute.
Simple ideas to try
- Create opportunities for children to help others.
- Include shared materials and collaborative experiences.
- Encourage caring for the environment and living things.
- Celebrate acts of kindness and cooperation.
Supporting children across contexts...
At home ...
Families provide children with their earliest experiences of giving and receiving care. Everyday acts of kindness, affection and helping build strong, caring relationships.
Simple ideas to try
- Model kindness in everyday interactions.
- Encourage children to help family members.
- Notice and acknowledge caring behaviours.
- Create opportunities to care for pets, plants or the home.
In early learning settings...
Early learning settings provide rich opportunities for children to experience caring relationships beyond their family. Children learn to care for others as they participate in a supportive learning community.
Simple ideas to try
- Model caring and respectful relationships.
- Encourage helping and cooperation.
- Celebrate acts of kindness and empathy.
- Provide opportunities to care for the environment and one another.
Try this today...
- Notice the caring ways your child already helps others.
- Invite your child to care for something or someone today.
- Acknowledge acts of kindness, no matter how small.
- Model caring through your own words and actions.
- Reflect on how your family shows care for one another.