"The type of attachment relationship formed between a parent and their infant has a powerful influence on the potential health, social and economic opportunities of that child throughout their lifetime. This is particularly remarkable given that the template for a child's attachment relationship style is largely determined before the age of 2. Attachment style has an impact on a huge variety of psycho-social outcomes including academic achievements, martial satisfaction, likelihood of criminal involvement, mental health and quality of relationship with their own children, as well as physical health outcomes including childhood infections, asthma, cancer and diabetes.
"There is complex interplay between a baby's experiences and their neurological development with optimal development being more likely where a parent is physically and psychologically available, attuned to the infants needs and able to hold the child in mind. It is sensitive interaction with a caregiver that teaches a child to regulate their physiological arousal level, recognize their emotions and to mentalize/understand minds.
"The caregiver relationship helps the child to develop these complex reflective skills in the prefrontal areas of the brain. The child also learns their social skills from those they see demonstrated around them and their cognitive and language development can be helped or hindered by the stimulation and interactions they experience."
By Dr. Miriam Silver from her article "Differential Assessment"