Health and well-being (children and young people) Iechyd a llesiant (plant a phobl ifanc)
Attachment and its importance in child development Ymlyniad a’i bwysigrwydd i ddatblygiad plant

Attachment is a theory that explains how a child interacts with the adults caring for them.

Where there is a healthy attachment the child is confident that the adult will look after their needs for food, comfort, stimulation and care. This gives the child a secure base from which they can explore, developing confidence and positive self-esteem. Adults who experienced positive attachment as infants are more likely to form more satisfying adult relationships.

Where there is poor attachment and a child cannot rely on those around them to care for them and respond to their needs they may become anxious, insecure and have low self-esteem. Poor attachment in safeguarding cases can have an influence on any decision to remove children from their carers.

John Bowlby (1907 – 1990) considered that poor attachment in the early years can lead to an increase in aggression and ‘affectionless psychopathy’ where an individual cannot show affection of concern for others.

Damcaniaeth sy'n esbonio'r ffordd y mae plentyn yn rhyngweithio â'r oedolion sy'n gofalu amdano yw ymlyniad.

Os oes ymlyniad iach, mae'r plentyn yn hyderus y bydd yr oedolyn yn diwallu ei anghenion o ran bwyd, cysur, ysgogiad a gofal. Mae hyn yn rhoi sylfaen ddiogel i'r plentyn ar gyfer archwilio, gan fagu hyder a hunan-barch cadarnhaol. Mae oedolion a brofodd ymlyniad cadarnhaol yn fabanod yn fwy tebygol o ffurfio cydberthnasau sy'n rhoi mwy o foddhad fel oedolion.

Os oes ymlyniad gwael, ni all plentyn dibynnu ar y rhai o'i gwmpas i ofalu amdano ac ymateb i'w anghenion. Gall fynd yn bryderus, yn ansicr a chael hunan-barch isel. Mewn achosion diogelu, gall ymlyniad gwael ddylanwadu ar unrhyw benderfyniad i fynd â phlant oddi wrth eu gofalwyr.

Roedd John Bowlby (1907 – 1990) o'r farn y gall ymlyniad gwael yn y blynyddoedd cynnar arwain at gynnydd mewn ymddygiad ymosodol a ‘seicopathi dideimlad’ lle na all unigolyn ddangos anwyldeb na phryder tuag at eraill.