ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the importance of the keyworker to child relationships in the context of current research, theory, and the link to practice. It explores the theory of mind which can be established within the first five years of childhood; however, lack of appropriate developmental opportunities can lead to an immature sense of the autobiographical self. Secure attachment is necessary to encourage learning by promoting mental wellbeing which supports socio-personality development and positive interaction with environments. Insecure attachment affects the creation and maintenance of relationships in childhood and adulthood through the use of an inappropriate representational model. The demonstration of ambivalent attachment may incorporate an extreme display of misplaced positive or negative emotions – for example, a child may exhibit familiarity to strangers or aggression towards familiar adults. Behaviour is an outcome of social and emotional development and of attachment status.
