PICCOLO

Anna Marlowe

Department of Home and Family, Brigham Young University – Idaho

CHILD 300 Infant and Toddler Development

November 28, 2021

Research

The PICCOLO is an assessment used by researchers to measure certain domains of

important items in parent and child relationships. Those domains are Affection, Responsiveness,

Encouragement, and Teaching (Roggman, Cook, Innocenti, et al. 2013). There are a total of 29

items throughout these domains that name different acts and displays of certain behaviors that

parents show towards the child that are beneficial developmentally and build a secure attachment

between the parent and child. Attachment is the emotional bond, in this case, between parent and

child, that endures through time and hardship (Rowe, 2021). Children become attached as they

are protected by adults. As parents’ behaviors are measured in these four domains, it can help

them recognize what they do well, and what could use some attention to better their relationship

with their child at this critical time in their lives to build that secure attachment.

The first item from the Responsiveness domain is that the parent responds to child’s

emotions. This means that the parent responds to the child’s positive and negative emotions with

understanding, acceptance, and sympathy. This response to such feelings creates trust and secure

attachment between the parent and child. It builds an important foundation for their

understanding and recognition of their own emotions that will help them throughout their life. It

opens the doorway for their being able to feel, cope, understand, and then explore their emotions.

The communication between parents and children is better when the parent responds to their

child’s emotions in a healthy way. It builds confidence and an interest in the world around them

as their feelings are validated and they are shown how to cope and deal with any problems that

come their way. A parent’s sensitivity is the balance between comforting an emotional child and

letting them explore (Rowe, 2021). When parents sensitively and quickly respond to cries and
other signs of distress, it builds their attachment. Being responsive helps to create a secure

attachment built on trust and communication between parent and child.

From the Encouragement domain, another item that would lead to secure attachment is

when the parent supports their child in making choices. This behavior shown by parents, or a

lack of, builds a foundation for students to go off their whole life. At a young age, the parent may

let their child choose between a couple toys or choose what snack to have. As they get older, this

ability to recognize what they want and the ability to choose is exercised more and more to the

point of independence. The child will eventually, as they get older, use this ability to make

bigger decisions that hold a lot of weight compared to which toy they play with, but having that

foundation of making choices for themselves will prepare them. The parent can build a

relationship with the child that involves trust, respect, and support. If the child can recognize

from a very young age that their parent respects their choice, supports them, and will help them

if they need, the child will be able to create a secure attachment that will stay throughout their

life. When a parent allows their child to make their own choices and explore self-control, it

exercises the executive function in their brains. These skills are trained like muscles in a gym,

and aid in creating and keeping reliable and supportive relationships (Rowe, 2021). The

attachment between child and parent will grow and become more secure as parents allow their

child to explore their choices.

Another important item, from the Teaching domain, is when the parent engages in

pretend play with the child. The benefits of play are seemingly endless. Children are allowed to

explore, solve problems, learn, work, share, and more. It promotes their physical health, and

even helps them to sleep better. When parents engage in child’s play, it opens the opportunity for

their relationship to become stronger and their attachment to grow. When children are so young,
parents have many opportunities to teach and help their kids learn and understand things around

them. They learn through play and conversation (Roggman, Cook, Innocenti, et al. 2013).

Through play and conversation between parent and child, children can practice their language

skills, and build their relationship and secure attachment to their parent.
Creative

Parents/guardians, your young children are at a point in development that is important

and foundational for the rest of their lives. You get to be the person that guides them, teaches

them, responds to them, shows affection and understanding, and encourages them. With this

privilege comes a lot of responsibility. Children need affection, protection, and secure

attachment. There are many ways throughout the domains of teaching, responsiveness,

encouragement, and affection that parents can follow to best benefit their children.

All of these early interactions between parent and child are important. To build a secure

bond between you and your child that will be lasting, you can pay attention to your child’s needs,

respond appropriately to their emotions, engage in their play, and take advantage of opportunities

to build trust and hold conversation. By following these behaviors, your child will benefit

socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively. Your relationship with your child will also

benefit, and the attachment between you will strengthen in a healthy way. Children need their

room to play, explore, make choices, and learn from experience. Children learn by doing, and

parents can guide and supervise them. By letting children learn and experience things, parents

can still be seen as loving, protective, teaching, and helpful. When parents help their kids by

letting them have some freedom and structure, the benefits are endless. The attachment will be

stronger than it would be with many restrictions, or no guidance.

 References

Rowe, T. (2021). Attachment. Personal Collection of T. Rowe, Brigham Young University-

Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho.

Roggman, L., Boyce, L., and Innocenti, M. (2008). Developmental Parenting: A guide for early

childhood practitioners. Baltimore, MD: Brooks Publishing.

Roggman, L., Cook, G., Innocenti, M., Norman, V., Christiansen, K., and Anderson, S.

(2013). Parenting Interactions with Children; Checklist of Observations Linked to

Outcomes (PICCOLO) User's Guide. Baltimore, MD: Brooks Publishing.

Sielger, R. S. (2017). How Children Develop for Brigham Young University - Idaho.

[VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved

from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781319143190/