How are families different today than in the past?

Today, that number is 62 percent. Today 26 percent of children live with one parent, 15 percent live with parents in a remarriage and 7 percent live with unmarried parents. In 1960, only 11 percent of children in the U.S. lived apart from their fathers.

How did the parent or caregiver influences impact the child?

Parents and caregivers offer their children love, acceptance, appreciation, encouragement, and guidance. They provide the most intimate context for the nurturing and protection of children as they develop their personalities and identities and also as they mature physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially.

How is brain development influenced by attachment?

First, attachment ensures the infant remain in the proximity of the caregiver to procure resources for survival and protection. Second, attachment “quality programs” the brain. This programming impacts immediate behaviors, as well as behaviors that emerge later in development.

How does parents splitting up affect a child’s development?

Emotional and behavioural problems in children are more common when their parents are fighting or separating. Children can become very insecure. Insecurity can cause children to behave like they are much younger and therefore bed wetting, ‘clinginess’, nightmares, worries or disobedience can all occur.