Because an early developmental task involves learning to trust others, the impermanence of the foster care arrangement may interfere with the child s formation of a significant attachment bond. These disruptions in attachment make these children at risk for problems in cognitive, social and emotional development. As a result of the attachment disruption, these children often engage in provocative behavior that increases parental frustrations and aggressiveness. These behaviors include inattentiveness, restlessness, noncompliance, and temper outbursts. These behaviors may raise parent s frustration with the child.
Many children are resilient and can learn to reattach.
Once an attachment bond is formed, the child can learn to elicit appropriate attachment behavior from his or her caregiver. Most individuals experience some trauma during childhood. However, children are learning and changing constantly, and as a result they are often quite resilient following traumatic events. Sometimes children s reactions occur by learned associations. It is helpful for parents to identify these.