Social-Emotional Learning
Bowlby & Ainsworth
Attachment Theory
Focus
A child who feels safe with you has a secure base to explore and learn from.
Key concepts
- Secure base
- Responsive caregiving
- Separation & reunion
In the classroom
A teacher greets each child by name at drop-off and stays close to the anxious one until they settle — then exploration begins.
See it in practice
Every Edfable simulation connected to this theory — and why it applies.
Active supervision isn't just counting heads — a predictable, watchful adult is the secure base that lets children explore.
Position yourself, scan, and count. Adjust ratios and zones and watch how active supervision holds — or breaks.
Families need a secure base too — a parent who trusts you can hear hard news without armor.
A worried parent at pickup. Hold the partnership while delivering a hard observation.