Attachment and trauma affect brain development from infancy to old age. This article brings together up-to-date information on attachment, trauma, and brain development in childhood from many different sources and article emphasizes the importance of secure attachment in optimal brain development.

The article not only describes how attachment and trauma affect brain development, but it also provides guidelines for parents and professionals. The article is in two parts. The first in on neurobiology and child development and the second is on trauma and child development. Together this information will be helpful to parents and professionals. A reading list is at the end of Part 2.