Collaborative parenting is in many ways a 180-degree progression from the authoritative way of raising children that many children of the 80’s and 90’s were raised. In continuing to learn from the generation before us, we too are working to improve the way we parent our children. If the goal of parenting is to raise healthy, happy children that have a strong family connection the secret sauce to ensuring this comes in the form of mutual respect, collaboration, and communication that collaborative parenting offers. The research shows that these three elements can pay dividends toward a common family goal – strong connections.

John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth and their Attachment Theory might not be something you’ve heard of but is a major developmental objective for children to develop with their caregivers, mainly their mothers since they typically act as the primary caregiver in many families. Being able to develop an attachment relationship with caregivers isn’t hard for children to do. However, creating a secure, healthy attachment relationship and reaping the benefits of such relationship is dependent on the parents, their parenting style, and availability of the parents. So, let’s break down attachment and how to provide your child with the care they need to insure a secure attachment.