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Learning and Relations

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The Attachment Village Why relationships are essential to learning?/ The Attachment Village

Our 
Story

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Jean Liedloff writes about her personal experience in the Jungle and the conclusions she draws from it. It is not a handbook for parenting, but it can shake us in the the well-known ideas our society holds on to. We do not agree on everything she writes, but we think it is an excellent book for parents and teachers who dare to look into uncomfortable questions. 
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Gordon Neufeld introduces the  Attachment Village. In Chapter 18 he describes how to build your own Attachment Village in our present world. https://www.neufeldinstitute.org/

Attachment is an important key in educating children

​Having lived in Africa for many years we enjoyed the attachment-village of friends, colleagues, neighbors, shop-owners....they all helped to keep a safe eye on our children. We did not worry when our three year old son wandered away from us in the shopping mall, as we knew that this one blond haired child would easily be recognized as ours. Everyone would know that if the child needed help, they would return him to us. 

It seems impossible in Africa to raise your child alone. There are always people to help care for the little ones. 

Children are content, happy with the little they sometimes have. Jean Liedhof stayed for 2 and a half years in the Amazon. Her observation was quite similar. Children have plenty of adults who care for them until they are big enough to do things on their own. 

Gordon Neufeld describes this attachment village, so common in tribal Africa or with the Indians in the Amazon. And even not so long ago, we grew up in a neighborhood where we could pop in to every neighbour's house as we pleased. Many eyes looked after us as we were unaware. But we felt safe and free to explore.

The Attachment Village is the network in which the child feels at home. How can we create such an environment? Actually we do not have to create something new, but tap into what already exists namely the family, and as the child grows older the extended family, friends, neighbourhood, village, city and the nation we live in. These places are societies, that are vibrant, lively and full of challenges. In these natural environments talents can be discovered and practised in different contexts. ' Attachment Village' is the right description of this home-like network and has been introduced by Gordon Neufeld iand Gabor Maté in their book "Hold on to your Kids"

It helps children to develop and learn naturally. Relationships and a feeling of belonging gives children the confidence to explore their environment and talents. Children are eager to see how adults participate in society and pick up a lot of our choices and activities. Well-being is an essential requirement for learning. 

It helps adults to share their responsibility load with other trusted adults. Ideally young couples should work on their network. Who are my friends? Which family member do I have contact with?  We choose the people who have an interest in our lives. When a child is born into the family we introduce our children to these contacts. They can help us take good care of our youngest as needed.

Like to know more about the attachment village or interested to start one? 

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The need to conserve and to live with nature instead of opposed to it are challenges that urgently require action. We need a generation of experts who delve deeply into microscopic details and at the same time have general knowledge and morality. This begs for an educational approach in which teachers as well as learners need
to test their knowledge and talents within a real-life context.

Children are naturally very open to learn in real-life-situations. Daniel Quinn wrote: 'Children are the most fantastic learners in the world'.  and we agree. It is a privilege to be their guide and introduce them to the complexity of this world. 
 
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