Fostering Secure Attachment in Infants Within the Family
Attendees of the Kėdainiai District Maternity School gathered for a meeting with psychologist Arūna Jakutienė. During the lecture/discussion titled “Fostering Secure Attachment in the Family,” expectant parents and parents of young children were reminded of what attachment is and why it is so important for a child’s development. It is a strong emotional bond between a child and the adults who are important to them. It begins to form from the very first days of life and becomes a vital foundation for a child’s trust, security, and emotional well-being.
When a child’s needs are met with sensitivity and in a timely manner, the child learns to perceive the world as a safe place. Secure attachment helps a child form relationships more easily, recognize and regulate their emotions, trust others, and explore their surroundings with greater confidence. “Secure attachment is a gift that a child carries with them throughout their life,” said psychologist A. Jakutienė. During the meeting, the stages of attachment development were discussed, as well as situations in which insecure attachment can form, and what parents can do to help their child feel loved, heard, and safe.
The mothers who gathered that day had the opportunity not only to learn more about the importance of relaxation during pregnancy and childbirth, but also to try out various breathing, relaxation, and visualization techniques in practice. The workshop, “Practical Exercises in Relaxation, Breathing, and Visualization,” was led by Lina Dubauskienė, a social worker and art therapy and relaxation practitioner at the Kėdainiai Primary Health Care Center (VšĮ Kėdainių PSPC). She explained to the expectant mothers how relaxation can help during pregnancy and childbirth: by reducing tension in the entire body and the uterine muscles, helping to better manage stress and anxiety, boosting self-confidence, and diverting attention from the unpleasant sensations experienced during childbirth. Relaxation practices can also help regulate heart rate and blood pressure and contribute to improved emotional well-being during the postpartum period.
Danutė Šilkaitienė, director of the Maternity School and health education coordinator at the Kėdainiai Primary Health Care Center (VšĮ Kėdainių PSPC), was pleased that the participants did not leave the meeting empty-handed—along with valuable information, they also received useful gifts: the e-books *Hold Me Tight* and *Responsible Parenting*, as well as the book *How to Raise a Person*. The books were purchased with funds from the “Promoting a Healthy Start in Life” program, which is financed by the Kėdainiai District Municipality.
