Fostering Attachment-Infused Preschools with Circle of Security in the United States
摘要
Early preschool experiences play a significant role in elementary school readiness. Although attachment to caregivers allows young children to practice and master their emotion regulation, preschool providers who serve young children tend to have little training in attachment. These preschool providers also do not receive enough support through consultation to learn and apply key attachment principles in preschool settings. As a result, the current study examined whether using the Circle of Security-Parenting (CoS-P) DVD-based program and subsequent consultation could inform preschool providers’ knowledge and classroom practices in preschools in high risk neighborhoods in and around Orlando, Florida, United States. The findings garnered from pre-group (before CoS-P), post-group (after CoS-P), and post-consultation assessment suggested that the preschool providers made changes in their thinking and their interaction style with young children across the course of the project. Further, they felt more efficacious in their jobs and changed specific ways of thinking about managing their young children’s negative emotions. These findings suggested that the use of CoS-P with preschool providers can enhance their attachment knowledge and their interactions with young children in their charge.