Parent News March-April 2001. More recently, research has identified characteristics of the adult-child relationship as uniquely important to children s development. The adult-child relationship in early childhood settings influences children s development in a number of ways.
Adults provide emotional security.
Although the attachment a child forms with an adult in child care is different from the attachment a child forms with his or her parents, a secure emotional bond with a caregiver is essential for healthy child development. Secure attachments develop as a result of sensitive, warm, responsive, and respectful caregiving. Secure attachments with adults in child care also influence children s friendships. The impact of children s close relationships with adults on social competence continues beyond the preschool years. Research conducted by Carolee Howes of UCLA found that a positive teacher-child relationship in child care predicted social competence with peers much beyond child care years.