Secure foundations...
Thriving futures
The mental wellbeing of our children starts with secure relationships
Secure Kids Australia is driven by the knowledge and belief that the relationships formed in a child’s early years builds the foundation for life-long social, emotional, and cognitive development. This belief is anchored in attachment theory.
Most conversations about attachment are focused on the parent-child relationship. However, with children now spending more time than ever in educational and professional care settings, we need to expand these conversations to include teachers and professional caregivers.
Children’s attachment needs can be summed up as the need to be in relationship with and (for young children) in the presence of, a caring and sensitive adult with whom they feel safe and connected. Young children cannot suspend this need, so it is imperative that they feel this sense of safety and security with their teacher throughout the school day.
This means that teachers play the role of secondary attachment figures in the lives of children when parents cannot be there. This forms a critical part of a child’s emotional support system that facilitates the development of a number of social competencies.
Over 25 years of research shows that children who feel secure with their teachers achieve higher grades, are more socially competent, are better able to regulate their emotions, and are more willing to approach challenges. These effects last across the lifespan.
A future where every child has the foundations to thrive, today and tomorrow.
By promoting secure attachment relationships, we build the foundation for lifelong social, emotional and cognitive growth in every child.
A world where mental wellbeing is nurtured from the earliest stages of development. Where attachment awareness is woven into the fabric of everyday interactions, supporting children, parents and educators in fostering secure attachment relationships.
Building secure kids to nurture a lifetime of healthy mental wellbeing.
Thriving, not just surviving.
Every child should feel valued, supported, and emotionally secure at home and in the classroom. These are the foundations for lifelong healthy mental wellbeing, and it starts in early childhood.
Empowering our educators.
We provide the knowledge, tools and confidence to meet the attachment needs of the child. To help foster secure relationships in the classroom and beyond
Evidence based practice.
A practice based on the science. Over 50 years of attachment research consistently shows that children who are securely attached do better in almost every way we can think to measure them. Dr Lisa Harris (Clinical Psychologist) is passionate about creating attachment awareness in schools so that every child can thrive in the classroom and beyond.
Why secure relationships need to be part of a school’s mental wellbeing framework.
Building secure kids to nurture a lifetime of healthy mental wellbeing. By promoting secure attachment relationships, we build the foundation for lifelong social, emotional and cognitive growth in every child.
Mental wellbeing programs exist in many schools, however there is a focus on notions of independence and resilience over attachment.
This means behaviour is often misinterpreted and therefore given a response unaligned to the child’s needs.