Maternal Sensitivity: A Scientific Foundation for Practice

Globally and across the lifespan, children spend more time with their mothers than any other person and they have optimal cognitive and social development and appropriate behavior if their mothers are sensitive. Thus, promoting maternal sensitivity is a public health concern. A sensitive mother is a good communicator and is able to quickly read nonverbal cues, “be in the moment” in her focus on interactions with the child, respect the child’s desire for more or less space between them, react positively and consistently, and speak in a way that is appealing to the child. This book brings together the work of the most highly respected scholars in the field of maternal sensitivity in order to provide a firm foundation for clinical practice.