Bonding of Children
and Teachers
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (1991) lists the criteria devised by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs for encouraging the bonding of children and teachers:
"F-3. Each staff member has primary responsibility for and develops a deeper attachment to an identified group of children. Every attempt is made to have continuity of adults who work with children, particularly infants and toddlers. Infants spend the majority of the time interacting with the same person each day. There is specific accountability for each child by one staff member
Young children develop optimally through close, affectionate relationships with other people, particularly adults. The development of attachment relationships is particularly important for infants. Staff should be able to emotionally attach themselves to young children while recognizing that the child's primary attachment bond is with the parents. The program establishes a system of accounting for children's whereabouts at all times." (p. 40)
