MOTHERS & CHILDREN
Building Healthy relationships between the Mothers and Children at Kamira AOD Services
THOMAS, 2005:5; GRAY, 2002:15 HIGHLIGHTED THAT:
The importance of healthy relationships between mothers and their children at AOD services need special attention. When we refer to healthy relationships at Kamira AOD service it will be in the context of the mother and child’s attachment relationship, as this will be the most crucial aspect in the children’s lives impacting their future relationships and emotional development and wellbeing.
Children under the age of five have always been welcomed to reside at Kamira. However, over time it became evident that the children needed more than childcare on site as they presented with attachment and behavioural problems. Their mothers frequently come from a trauma background or have mental health conditions as well as substance use problems. The children have often lived with traumatic experiences such as domestic violence, neglect and abuse and have parents who were most likely emotionally unavailable to them. This can result in attachment difficulties.
Attachment issues can often present in children as behavioural difficulties, being withdrawn, emotional regulation problems, sensory integration problems, hyperactivity, PTSD and other diagnosis such as ADHD.
Thomas, 2005:5; Gray, 2002:15 highlighted that:
“Attachment between caregivers and their children stands out
as a paramount aspect when working with children and
their caregivers as these important relations between self and
others will impact all future relationships."
Literature and previous studies suggest that secure attachments with loving, reliable and protective caregivers forms a crucial foundation in the caregiver-and-child-relationship and for the healthy development of children.
Looking at the above information it is therefore a priority that mothers and children have support in their attachment relationship with each other. This is the reason that Kamira developed an attachment based program for the children and their mothers that focuses on strengthening attachment which fosters resilience.
We have found that working on healthy attachment relationships enables the mothers and children to re-connect, strengthen the child’s sense of trust and security and in some cases set the scene for play therapy for the child.
As part of the Kamira’s parenting program mothers attend a range of parenting groups including Circle of Security, a relationship based parenting course. Mothers with babies attend the infant massage group where they learn how to attach and bond with their baby through nurturing touch, being sensitive and responding to their baby’s unique cues.
Other groups currently being offered by the parenting team include: Wiggle and Giggle Sensory Play, Keeping Connected (focussing on maintaining connections with children in out of home care), Tuning into Kids: reading emotional cues of children, and parenting topic groups.
Attachment based therapeutic activities between the mothers and their children are the foundation of the parenting program. Our attachment based treatment plan is guided by our initial assessments of the child’s socio-emotional development, sensory and regulation preferences, attachment relationship, the child’s temperament and the history of the child.
