Written By: Ms. Lui Shuk Jing, Family Dynamics Personal, Marriage and Family

 Therapist

There is a Chinese saying “the age of three determines 80” and the West has another saying “The future is now”.It is clear that both Chinese and foreign parents have relevant parenting experience and believe that the early years are the golden age

for shaping the healthy growth of their children. Many parents understand that they are the key influencers of their children’s growth, and that their children will learn by

example, so they have to set an example and start to discipline them at a young age.

I believe that parents focus on disciplining their children’s behavior, but recent studies in medicine, science, psychology, and early childhood development all point to the

interaction and relationship between parents and children as the foundation for their

children’s development.

“Attachment Theory research clearly shows that as early as 0-18 months of age, a

parent or primary caregiver forms a lifelong relationship pattern with the child that will be passed on for the rest of the child’s life. Once a secure attachment relationship is

established, it is like a secure base that can be effective in dealing with future turbulent situations and in building the ability to have a successful family relationship.

Conversely, once an insecure relationship pattern is established, it can have a negative

impact on an infant’s future growth, emotional processing, and family relationships.