Protecting a child's emotional development when parents divorce by Dr. Peter Haiman (external site)
The child’s development of an emotional attachment to a primary caregiver in the first six years of life is very important. A disturbance in this development can create problems in childhood, adolescence, and adult life. Behaviors fundamental to personal and interpersonal well-being are involved. Examples of these are (a) the ability to create deep and enduring love relationships, (b) the strength to tolerate the imperfect satisfaction of personal needs, (c) the attitudes and desire that lead to cooperation with others, and (d) the motivation to learn and work. The course of these processes is set in the early years of life by the quality of the attachment bond that is established then...
