What happens when you take children out of the spotlight and focus on children and their families? You will get a family-centered approach to education. The family-centered approach believes that family involvement is important for the child's cognitive and social development. The theories and concepts of the Family Centered Program support the early childhood classroom and the child's family. This can only happen if parents and educators work together to encourage desired behaviors in preschoolers in both preschool and home settings. The first thing that must be observed to understand a child's development is attachment. Attachment is an enduring emotional relationship that begins at birth and is a lifelong process. The first attachment a child has sets the tone for development and provides the foundation for all future relationships (Gonzalez-Mena, 2009). Attachment gives children a sense of well-being that occurs when an adult responds sensitively and appropriately to the child's needs. Attachment occurs in both children and adults. For adults this can happen almost immediately in some. Signs that a parent/adult is attached are giving the child a name, purchasing items that are for the child, recognizing the child as an individual. Children take longer than adults to show attachment. You can tell when a child is attached when they show an emotional bond with someone. Not all cultural attachments occur in the same way. Caregivers who care for children have many of the same qualities as good parents, so this also promotes attachment. Anyone who cares for a child must be sensitive to each child's needs to respond appropriately. As in the case of parents, attachment arises from sensitivity and, once again, from a synchronous relationship...... middle of paper ......working together to encourage attachment, self-help skills help, empowerment, pro-sociality and self-esteem behavior of pre-school children both in pre-school and home environments. Works Cited Bartlett, K. (2010, September 21). Give children the power of choice. Retrieved from http://theattachedfamily.com/membersonly/?p=2600Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2009). Child, family and community, family-centred early care and education. Pearson College Div. Hussey-Gardner, B. (2003). Being parents to make a difference. Retrieved from http://www.parentingme.com/selfhelp.htmPreusse, K. (n.d.). Promoting prosocial behavior in young children. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=566Sheslow, D. (2008, November). Develop your child's self-esteem. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/self_esteem.html