Strong Starts, Steady Bonds: Helping Young Children Thrive Through Change

Early experiences shape a child’s ability to adapt, trust, and thrive—making these years critical for long-term resilience. This session explores how to support caregivers in building secure attachments through responsive caregiving, even during deployments or training absences. We’ll share practical ways to integrate early intervention services into daily life across duty stations and maintain developmental progress during transitions. Participants will leave with tools to equip caregivers to support emotional regulation, trust, and early independence in infants and toddlers.

Learning Objectives

• Identify two strategies for sustaining caregiver–child attachment during separations.
• Demonstrate one method for maintaining early intervention support before a relocation and after.
• Apply at least two responsive caregiving techniques to promote early development.