Susan Donahoe, Early Childhood Coordinator
About two years ago, I was at a workshop on attachment. We
had been discussing, among other things, the fact that
attachment appears to be the foundation for the development
of social competence. The experience of becoming attached
seems to be the first, critical link in a chain of
relationships that branch out from that initial attachment.
The chain allows one to eventually function as an adult in a
relatively effective, mutually satisfying way with many
different people. Not only does this ability make life more
enjoyable for the individual and those around him, but
research also suggests that this social competence is more
important for job success than intelligence or skill. The
main ingredient in the adult/child interaction that allows
attachment to develop appears to be "contingent
collaborative communication" (Dr. Daniel Siegel, UCLA).
This can be characterized as a back and forth dance between a
young child and caregiver that is based on what the young
child is saying, either through verbalizations or body
language.
I subsequently began to review the Parents And
Communication Team (PACT) language model
materials, with the attachment message still in the front of
my mind. I began to realize why this program not only boosts
language development, but also affects positive changes in
behavior. The PACT model is a Wisconsin version of the
Canadian-based Hanen program that supports parents and school
staff to use everyday interactions with young children as the
basis for language enrichment or intervention. The main
strategy for this program can be summarized as
responsiveness. Adults are taught to Observe, Wait,
and Listen, for example, to see what the child is
interested in and what they are trying to say in order to
respond to the child’s lead. These techniques will be
familiar to those that have studied other means of
relationship building and increasing engagement in children.
These are also recognizable as strategies that open the
emotional mind, in terms of allowing a child to feel
comfortable and safe as well as the intellectual mind, in
terms of engaging the brain to receive new information or
re-process old.
The PACT model relies on simple strategies that can be
carried out in every day environments. It supports the
primary caretakers in a young child’s life to respond to
both a young child’s feelings and language in a way that
nurtures healthy development in both. The training model
supports the adults in learning these practical strategies
through a fun, structured and effective format that includes
sharing information, practicing techniques and supporting
each other’s learning.
Whatever your bottom-line: PACT is a program that you
want to investigate.
MONEY--.Increasing student achievement in several
areas at a young age saves district resources.
READING SCORES--Language is the basis for literacy.
SAFE SCHOOLS/SAFE WORLD--Children who have been
nurtured in a responsive environment are more likely to
develop secure primary attachments and social/emotional
maturity.
FAMILY INVOLVEMENT--Sharing effective
techniques engages families of young children as partners
at this critical time in development.
"I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO BE HAPPY"-The
social, emotional and communication skills that are
supported by this program are sure to contribute to all
participants sense of well-being and ability to succeed
in life.
