Observing Children with Attachment Difficulties in Preschool Settings ─ A Tool for Identifying and Supporting Emotional and Social Difficulties

For preschool children with emotional difficulties arising from difficulties in attachment, standard observations used in early years settings are not always helpful in identifying their problems and providing guidance on how they can be helped.

Kim S. Golding is a consultant clinical psychologist with a special interest in parenting. She was involved in the setting up and evaluation of an inter-agency project in Worcestershire, UK, which is now part of the Integrated Service for Looked After Children (ISL). She is author of Observing Children with Attachment Difficulties in School, Creating Loving Attachments (co-authored with Daniel A. Hughes) and Nurturing Attachments. Jain Fain is an early years practitioner for ISL, supporting the transition of children from early years settings into school. Ann Frost works in early years and education for ISL, supporting looked after and adopted children by raising awareness of their additional needs in schools and early years settings. Sian Templeton is an educational psychologist. Previously, she taught in primary education. Eleanor Durrant is currently completing a doctorate in clinical psychology, with a special interest in attachment.