Skill-buiding in areas impacted by trauma and attachment injuries is just one part of the M-MAT Model. By including parent and child together, we quadruple the impact and effect of this component. (OK, this statement has not been researched yet, but you get the idea 😉 ).

Here are a few reasons why engaging in skill-building activities together with both the parent and child is important:

1) Enhanced Communication and Bonding:

        Joint activities create opportunities for positive interactions and shared experiences. Communication during these activities strengthens the parent-child bond, fostering a secure attachment. The emotional connection developed through shared activities lays the foundation for effective communication and understanding between parent and child.

2) Emotional Regulation:

        Skill-building activities often involve facing challenges and problem-solving. When a parent and child work together to overcome obstacles, it promotes emotional regulation. The child learns to manage stress and frustration with the support and guidance of the parent (co-regulating), contributing to the development of emotional regulation.

3) Modeling and Imitation:

        Children learn not only through explicit teaching but also by observing and imitating their parents. Joint skill-building activities provide an opportunity for parents to model skills, behaviors, and problem-solving strategies. Children, in turn, can imitate and internalize these behaviors, contributing to their overall development. For children with attachment injuries, this normal process of learning from their parents in this way may have been disrupted early in their life, and this provides an opportunity to re-establish this.

4) Promoting a Sense of Belonging:

        Engaging in activities together reinforces the sense of belonging and connection within the family unit. A secure attachment fosters a child's sense of being loved, valued, and an integral part of the family, contributing to a positive family identity.

5) Secure Base for Exploration:

        Attachment theory posits that a secure attachment provides a child with a secure base from which to explore the world. When parents and children engage in skill-building activities together, it reinforces the sense of security and support, allowing the child to explore and learn with confidence.

6) Building a Positive Self-Concept:

        Through shared activities, parents can provide positive feedback and reinforcement, contributing to the child's developing sense of self-worth and competence. When children experience success in joint endeavors, it positively influences their self-concept and confidence.

7) Generalizing Learned Skills:

         It will be easier for the child to generalized the skills to the home environment when they have practiced with their parent, and parent and child will have a shared language and experience, allowing the parent to support the child better in implementing skills.

8) Increasing Motivation and Reducing Shame:

         Because the parent is learning the skills right with them, the child may feel less singled out, less the "identified patient", and they may be more motivated to engage in skill-building activities.

9) Parents Can Benefit From the Skill-Building as Well!

        Parents and adults can equally benefit from the skills, improving functioning of the whole family unit!

In summary, engaging in skill-building activities together aligns with the principles of attachment theory by reinforcing the parent-child bond, creating a secure base for exploration, and promoting positive emotional and social development. These shared experiences contribute to the formation of a secure attachment, laying the groundwork for the child's overall well-being.