Attachment & Development Research
Attachment and development research looks at how early relationships between children and caregivers relate to emotional and social development over time. Much of this research focuses on how consistency and responsiveness in caregiving are associated with children’s sense of security and their ability to manage emotions as they grow.
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Rather than pointing to single causes or universal outcomes, this research highlights variation across children and families. Findings are typically discussed as patterns and associations, shaped by context and caregiving environments, rather than as fixed conclusions that apply in the same way to every family.
Supporting Father Involvement to Improve Outcomes for Children
Pruett, Cowan, Cowan, Pradhan, Robins, & Pruett (2016)
This chapter explains the unique developmental role fathers play, how restrictive gatekeeping can limit children’s access to those benefits, and what research shows about overnight care for children under three. It also reviews evidence-based co-parenting programs—including SFI—that improve cooperation before and after separation.
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Fathers provide distinct, essential benefits to children.
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Gatekeeping can reduce father involvement and harm child adjustment.
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Challenges with overnights for under-3s relate more to conflict than to overnights themselves.
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Co-parenting interventions strengthen both parent roles and reduce conflict.
Social Science and Parenting Plans for Young Children: A Consensus Report
Warshak, R. A. (2014)
This consensus paper — endorsed by 110 child-development experts — reviews research on attachment, overnight parenting, and parenting plans for infants and toddlers. The report concludes that young children benefit from frequent, meaningful contact with both parents, and that overnights can support healthy attachment when caregiving is stable.
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Infants and toddlers are capable of forming secure attachments to both parents.
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Regular contact, including overnights, preserves attachment bonds and reduces separation stress.
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Age-based bans on overnights lack empirical support.
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Parental conflict—not overnights—is the primary risk factor for poor child outcomes.
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Parenting plans should avoid unnecessarily restricting one parent’s involvement.