From Exploring Difficult Behavior by TONY LPD · Mental Health
Chapter 4 — Establishing Safety in Development
Published
f fear disrupts development, then safety is its foundation. For children to thrive—emotionally, cognitively, and socially—they must experience safety not just as an abstract idea, but as a felt reality in their bodies. Safety is not only about protection from harm; it is about the presence of trust, connection, and predictability in everyday life. Establishing safety in development involves multiple dimensions: the quality of attachment relationships, the challenges children face, the environments they inhabit, and the recognition and respect for their individual differences in development.
/If fear disrupts development, then safety is its foundation. For children to thrive—emotionally, cognitively, and socially—they must experience safety not just as an abstract idea, but as a felt reality in their bodies. Safety is not only about protection from harm; it is about the presence of trust, connection, and predictability in everyday life. Establishing safety in development involves multiple dimensions: the quality of attachment relationships, the challenges children face, the environments they inhabit, and the recognition and respect for their individual differences in development.