Which statement describes secure attachment in toddlers?

Which statement describes secure attachment in toddlers?

• A. Greet parents with positive emotions; content, engaged, on task.
• B. May avoid parents; withdrawn, quiet, anxious.
• C. Wary of strangers; anxious, not focused, insecure, asking a lot of questions.
• D. Confusion or apprehension; angry, depressed, not following directions, short fuse, difficulty making friends.

Answer: (A)

Secure attachment shows the child using the caregiver as a reliable base: they feel safe to explore, yet easily reconnect with the caregiver when needed. When a toddler greets a parent with positive emotions and remains content, engaged, and on task while the parent is present, it signals that the child trusts the caregiver’s availability and support. This warm, responsive dynamic helps the child regulate emotions and participate confidently in activities, knowing help is nearby if distress arises. The other patterns describe less secure relationships: withdrawal or not seeking comfort points to avoidant patterns; being wary of strangers and showing high anxiety or clinginess reflects anxious/ambivalent tendencies; and persistent confusion or abrupt mood changes can indicate disorganized attachment. These do not fit the described warm and engaged response as well as secure attachment does.

Secure attachment shows the child using the caregiver as a reliable base: they feel safe to explore, yet easily reconnect with the caregiver when needed. When a toddler greets a parent with positive emotions and remains content, engaged, and on task while the parent is present, it signals that the child trusts the caregiver’s availability and support. This warm, responsive dynamic helps the child regulate emotions and participate confidently in activities, knowing help is nearby if distress arises.

The other patterns describe less secure relationships: withdrawal or not seeking comfort points to avoidant patterns; being wary of strangers and showing high anxiety or clinginess reflects anxious/ambivalent tendencies; and persistent confusion or abrupt mood changes can indicate disorganized attachment. These do not fit the described warm and engaged response as well as secure attachment does.