Security Objects Offer Comfort to Young Children

Security objects objects? Or should they encourage chil- for young children dren to form such attachments and come in many make the security objects available forms. Worn blan- throughout early childhood or even kets, ancient stuffed later? Many parents have no choice in Parent animals, bottles, the matter, because specific attachments Pages pacifiers and scraps usually occur before the adults are aware of garment lining of them. A parent or caregiver may not are among the most realize at first that a baby is crying and common. The names bestowed on resisting rest or sleep because a certain When is a 's attachment to a these objects usually originate from a blanket or is not where security object something to worry baby's earliest attempts to speak - for the child can see or feel it. about? A rule of thumb might be that example, "ba ba," "pooty," "binky," and when a child's need for the object con- "blankey." Objects apparently can become sub- sistently interferes with play, sleeping, stitutes for the sense of comfort and eating or social relationships, that child These security objects are used in a security that comes from being held, may be experiencing an overload of variety of ways. The cartoon character rocked or walked. They provide con- and professional consultation is Linus has immortalized the blanket- stancy during a period of rapid change. indicated. But for most healthy chil- over-the-shoulder, thumb-in-mouth Holding the security blanket or object dren, occasional retreats with a security position, while Radar of the M*A*S*H allows the child to experience familiar object over the course of a day provide TV series demonstrates the traditional feelings of security and face new, even important refueling stops in the impor- approach of holding a stuffed animal frightening, events such as separation tant work of growing up. while going to sleep. Small children from parents. may use security objects to hug, twitch, In a New York Times article, Dr. wipe between upper lip and nose, sniff, It seems important, therefore, that Paul Horton was quoted as saying, twirl, suck or rub. children have access to security objects "...the ability to give solace to oneself is when they want them, but particularly at the basis of such major positive feelings The loss of a precious "bankee" or stressful times such as , going to as joy, awe, forgiveness and generosity." "pooty" can create real distress and day care or during a doctor's visit. At the very least, these "bankees" surely ensuing bedlam in a family while every- Attempts by adults to persuade a child are comforting and young children's one engages in a frantic search for the to surrender "pooty" may result in more attachments to them should not be dis- beloved object. Parents have been determined efforts by that child not to couraged. known to backtrack 100 miles on a trip let "pooty" out of sight or hand. The Source: Jennifer Birckmayer, Department of or to demand that laundromats be day care and nursery school practice of Human Development and Family Studies, opened after hours in the fervent hope asking children to keep security objects New York State College of Human Ecology, that "pooty" will be found. in their cubbies is understandable, but Cornell University. Parent Pages was devel- children should have private time, on oped by Cornell Cooperative Extension of What's going on here? Should par- request, with the objects in their cub- Suffolk County. ents and caregivers try to wean toddlers bies, and should never be asked to share from their deep attachments to security these objects. HD 19 Community Campus Cornell University 18 Seward Avenue, Suite 300 Middletown, NY 10940-1919 Cooperative Extension 845-344-1234 Orange County www.cce.cornell.edu/orange Printed 8/2008

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