The study of child attachment, or the emotional bond that a child forms with his primary caregivers, has led to important insights about the role that parent-child interactions have on the development of the brain.  These emotional bonds directly effect an individual’s neurological capacity to self-regulate and emotionally connect with others.  Very young children who experience neglect or abuse, or who lack access to a dedicated caregiver with whom they can form an attachment, are at high risk for attachment-related developmental problems, including Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) specifically.  As a result, many children from overseas orphanages or the domestic foster care system are at a higher risk of developing attachment related issues.  Unfortunately, when they are placed in stable and loving homes, caregivers can find themselves unprepared for the issues facing their expanded family.  The children often have tremendous difficulty navigating between healthy exploration of their world and refuge seeking in adult caregivers, even after a stable and loving caregiver (i.e., a Safe Harbor) becomes available to them. Practically speaking, these children often have severe problems understanding and regulating their emotions and interact with others in ways that are inappropriate, confusing, and exasperating.

Children with attachment-related problems experience the world differently than children who were able to form stable attachments in their earliest years of life. As a result, parenting a child with RAD requires understanding the developmental adaptations that occur in a neglectful and unpredictable interpersonal environment. Safe Harbor concepts provide a starting point for developing that understanding.

Click on the below links to read more:
Signs of Reactive Attachment Disorder
Parenting Children with RAD