Introduction
Caillou is an educational animated TV show that tells the story of a four-year-old boy named Caillou. The show portrays the process of his development and understanding of the world. Interested in his surroundings, the boy demonstrates a desire to interact with his environment. In addition to Caillou’s excitement with the world, the cartoon also depicts the process of the boy’s socialization. His family – mother, father, and sister Rosie – are not the only people he communicates with, as other kids and adults are also depicted. Caillou is an active, cheerful, and sociable kid. Still, it is essential to state that the whole show is made in such a way as to describe the common developmental and behavioral patterns of children at Caillou’s age. In addition, it shows some common real-life situations that can make the process of socialization easier and teach kids how to behave around other people. In this way, Caillou is a show that’s not only engaging to children due to its bright colors and interesting themes but also to psychologists, as it demonstrates the stages of children’s development and integration into their social environments.
Among the different aspects covered by the show, this paper will focus on one domain of children’s development: the emotional aspect. This domain will be viewed from the perspective of attachment theory, which explains relational bonding between parents and children and their impact on their children’s further emotional development. Seeking proximity is the foundation of the theory. Still, it is imperative to note that there are different ways of demonstrating attachment—from gestures and tone of voice to cognitive and language skills—and they change as a child grows. That being said, this paper will discuss examples that point to different aspects of the emotional development of Caillou and his relationships with other people (specifically Rosie, mom, and dad) with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of attachment theory and determining whether there are any disorders or disturbances in Caillou’s attachments.
Article 1 Summary: The Influence of Attachment on Development
This research study aimed at representing the fundamental ideas of attachment theory and reviewing their impact on parenting practices and, as a result, the development of a child. The focus was placed on different styles of attachment, such as secure, avoidant, and ambivalent; the attachment styles of both infants and adults; the different dimensions of temperament that determine predisposition to particular attachment styles; and children’s reactions to varying parenting styles, which in turn affect attachment (Hong & Park, 2012). In order to answer these questions, the authors conducted a thorough review of the existing literature on attachment theory, paying specific attention to different evidence-based sources. It is essential to note that Hong and Park (2012) did not choose any measurements to draw conclusions because their research was descriptive in nature and there was no need to conduct a separate investigation. Instead, the authors chose to summarize the findings of available studies. Reactions to treatment were the primary measurement throughout the paper.
To summarize the results of the article, the authors concluded that in the presence of a caring and sensitive style of parenting, which involves communication and positive emotions, children tend to develop positively and demonstrate secure attachment. They trust their parents as well as people in their nearest social surroundings and grow up open and eager to explore the environment. On the other hand, if parents ignore their children and are rude and angry in communication, their children are often afraid of caregivers, choose to avoid contact, and reject their help. In this way, their attachment style is either ambivalent (i.e. unstable) or avoidant. In similar cases, children face significant challenges in emotional development, cannot realize their full potential, and fail to fully develop their personalities (Hong & Park, 2012).
Article 2 Summary: Disorder of Attachments and Their Influence on Child’s Development
Attachment in the early years of childhood is the foundation for successful development and socialization during the maturation period of life. In this way, a child’s style of attachment affects his or her later life. For instance, the insecure attachment can have a detrimental impact on the personal and emotional development of a mistreated child, possibly leading to reactive attachment disorder (RAD). This condition is the focus of the second article under consideration, which explored the influence of RAD on human development. Just like the authors of the first article, Ohtaras (2015) performed a comprehensive review of the existing literature to study the impact of RAD on children without conducting any additional investigations and experiments. In this article, the effectiveness of socialization is the central measure.
According to the researcher, children under five years old make up the major risk group. Avoiding eye contact, exhibiting hyperactive behavior, taking no interest in people, and searching for playmates are just some of the concerns that might point to RAD (Ohtaras, 2015). As a result, RAD can have a detrimental impact on the socio-emotional, educational, and cognitive development of a child, leading to hyperactive behaviors in children under eight to twelve years old, which may evolve into psychiatric illnesses associated with high risks of morbidity in adults between 21 and 51 years old. The main conclusion of the article is as follows: it is critical to make an effort to establish secure attachment between parents and children in order to avoid the development of RAD. Moreover, if any of the concerns are identified in a child, it is crucial to eliminate them in order to protect the child from negative emotional states, limited interactions with social surroundings, and impaired cognitive and educational development.
Drawing Lines Between Research Findings and the Chosen Character
Both articles highlight material that is closely connected to Caillou’s development. For instance, it is possible to connect parenting style with Caillou’s form of attachment. His mother is responsive and open, and she pays special attention to answering all of his questions. As Caillou asks questions in the episode about drawing Christmas cards, she answers all of them, thus engaging him in the process of drawing cards. Moreover, when Rosie starts distracting Caillou from this exciting task, his mother decides to take her away and find another activity for the daughter (Caillou, 2016a). In this way, it can be said that Caillou’s attachment style is secure because he trusts his mother to solve his problems and conflicts with his sister. Indeed, he is a sociable, confident, and playful child – features that correspond to a secure attachment style (Hong & Park, 2012).
On the other hand, when Caillou is excited to help his dad clean up the yard from snow, his dad rejects his desire to shovel, pointing to the necessity of having breakfast first, and Caillou gets upset. The same is true about the morning Caillou has to wait for his father to finish a phone call and go to the bathroom before going to see Santa Claus at the local mall (Caillou, 2016b). Even though Caillou’s dad is caring, children might see such refusals in a different manner, thus developing an ambivalent attachment – either choosing another parent with whom to seek proximity or being avoidant with his father (Hong & Park, 2012). Nevertheless, as for now, Caillou’s attachment with both parents is secure. For this reason, it can be said that Caillou is unlikely to experience RAD, as he has never witnessed maltreatment, is sociable, does not avoid eye contact, and is interested in finding playmates and exploring his surroundings (Ohtaras, 2015).
Next Steps in Character’s Development
Based on the analysis of Caillou’s current stage of development, it is possible to speculate on the next steps of his personality growth. Because Caillou has a secure attachment with both of his parents, as well as grandparents, he is motivated to explore the world and has face-to-face interactions, and it is evident that there will be no disturbances in his future emotional development (Hong & Park, 2012). However, it is essential to note that interactions with adults do not always determine the trajectory of development. Regardless of having a positive foundation for further personality growth, Caillou is still a young child. When he gets older and goes to school, thus becoming more engaged in the process of socialization with peers, he may face some challenges like bullying or the unwillingness of other kids to communicate with him. Still, according to Ohtaras (2015), secure attachment with caregivers is the foundation for emotional self-regulation that will help the child cope with these issues. Overall, Caillou is most likely to become a happy child with normal emotional and cognitive development who is motivated to succeed in education and interactions (Ohtaras, 2015).
References
Caillou. (2016a, April 6). Caillou full episodes / 1 hour long compilation special / Brand new HD cartoon for kids. Web.
Caillou. (2016b, December 19). Cartoon | Caillou has Fun | Cartoons for Kids | Cartoons for Children. Web.
Hong, Y. R., & Park, J. S. (2012). Impact of attachment, temperament and parenting on human development. Korean Journal of Pediatrics, 55(12), 449-454.
Ohtaras, A. (2015). Reactive attachment disorder in children: Impacts on development, educational implications and the need for secure attachment. Journal of Student Engagement: Education Matters, 5(1), 2015, 28-38.