Learning to provide children with a secure base and a safe haven: The Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) group...

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry
• Family Therapy

Background:

• Insecure attachment in children is associated with significant internalizing and externalizing behavior problems.
• Attachment security is crucial for healthy child development.
• Existing interventions may not be widely accessible to families needing support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the theoretical underpinnings and evidence for the Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) intervention.
• To describe the COS-P intervention protocol for promoting children's attachment security.
• To illustrate the practical application of COS-P through a case example.

Main Methods:

• The study outlines the theoretical framework of the Circle of Security approach.
• It reviews existing research supporting the COS model.
• The manualized, video-based, eight-unit group parenting intervention protocol is described.

Main Results:

• The COS-P intervention is designed for easy implementation, increasing accessibility for families.
• A case example demonstrates how parents can enhance their understanding of child needs.
• Parents learn to interpret child signals, regulate their own responses, and adapt their parenting strategies.

Conclusions:

• The Circle of Security-Parenting program offers a structured approach to improving child attachment security.
• The intervention equips parents with skills to better meet their children's developmental needs.
• COS-P demonstrates potential for widespread application in supporting families and mitigating child behavior issues.