Assignment Background:
As early childhood professionals, it is critical to look at the whole child and the influences that make the child who they are. For infants, relationships have the most profound influence on their ongoing development. Attachment theories can help but to better understand how relationships impact a child's development; an educator should look to the relationships they themselves developed as a young child.
Note: This assignment may bring up emotional personal experiences. We encourage you to share honestly and openly as you explore how attachment influences development. While this assignment is only between yourself and your instructor, please talk one-on-one with your instructor if you have concerns about this assignment.
Directions:
Write a 2-3 page reflection discussing the personal relationships that influenced you the most growing up. The relationships you choose to share may come from your family or community but look back to your earliest relationships as a child that you can remember. The relationship may or may not have been a positive influence.
In your personal essay, reflect on and address the following prompts:
1. Provide background information on some of the people in your formative relationships. Who were they in your life? Share anecdotes from your relationship or specific memories.
2. What aspects of the relationships were/were not nurturing for you as a young child? How do you know? Explain the ingredients for nurturing or non-nurturing relationships.
3. What was the impact of the relationships on your development at that time? How do you see their impact on you as an adult? Has it changed over time? Why is that do you think?
4. Connect your relationships to a theory of attachment. What theory helps explain the relationship's influence on your development? Why do you think so?
5. How did culture or context influence or support your relationships?
Please be detailed, use correct grammar and punctuation, and cite source if used.