Children thrive in the presence of sensitive and loving adults. Research confirms what we already know about providing these critical, yet fleeting experiences. As busy parents, we are challenged to invest our limited time wisely for the greatest benefit of our most precious family members. The upcoming holiday season is often filled with material ‘presents’ that are soon broken, lost, discarded and forgotten. Join Attachment Parenting International, AskDrSears.com, Mothering Magazine, Amby Baby, Mommy Matters, and Infant Massage USA in celebrating Attachment Parenting Month this October and discover new and enduring traditions to “Give Our Children Presence”.

There are many resources on this site to help you host, promote, and report on your AP Month event. Check back frequently or consider subscribing to our RSS feed so that you can keep up to date as we add more information to this site. Should you have any questions, please contact API and we’ll do our best to respond as quickly as possible.

“It is presence that regulates the child’s anxiety and therefore the child will grow up healthy and happy. And the degree to which you are present is the degree to which your child will benefit from being in your life and the degree to which you’re absent is the degree to which you will be a wounding source for the child. And those are always correlated in the sense of being present to yourself as well as being present to your partner. In other words, what’s evolved for Helen and me is trying to synthesize and get down to one main principle, which is presence.” - Harville Hendricks

Essay Contest Winners

#1 Favorite - “What If…?” by Kelly Coyle DiNorcia of Long Valley, New Jersey USA

#2 Favorite - “The Way It’s Supposed to Be” by Jennifer Swartz of Boise, Idaho USA

Honorable Mention - “Giving Our Children Presence” by Julie Hudson of Auburn Township, Ohio USA, & “Grief and Presence” by Deanna Spangler of Roseville, California USA

Prizes
#1 Favorite:
Essay gets printed in the New Baby 2009 issue, Kelly gets a free one-year membership to API and a free copy of a book by an AP expert

#2 Favorite:
Essay gets excerpt printed in the New Baby 2009 issue, Jennifer gets a free one-year membership to API

Top 4:
All authors are named on API website (home page & AP Central), on AF site, and in New Baby 2009 as winners

All 8 essays entered into contest:
All essays are eligible to be published on the AF site

Photo Contest Winners

#1 Favorite - “Father and Son Flying Kite” by Gaynell Payne of Goodlettsville, Tennessee USA

#2 Favorite - “Mother and Baby in the Garden” by Nannette Powell of Lakewood, Colorado USA

Honorable Mention - “Face to Face” by Stacey Annand of Chula Vista, California USA, & “Tandem Nursing” by Melissa Mailly of Lauderdale, Minnesota USA

Prizes
#1 Favorite:
Photo gets printed on the cover of a 2009 issue, Gaynell gets a free one-year membership to API and a free copy of a book by an AP expert

#2 Favorite:
Photo gets printed on the cover of a 2009 issue, Nannette gets a free one-year membership to API

Top 4:
All photographers/submitters are named on API website (home page & AP Central), on AF site, and in New Baby 2009 as winners

All 32 photos entered into contest:
All photos are eligible to be published on the AF site, in the Ezine, and on the covers of subsequent AF print magazines

Choose your favorite essay from the 2008 Attachment Parenting Month’s Photo Contest!

In October, parents sent in their personal essays describing what it means to give their children presence. A committee of API staff members has selected their favorites, and now it’s your turn to tell us who should receive prizes, which include a free one-year membership to API, a book by an AP expert author, and a special spotlight in the new The Attached Family Magazine debuting in the spring of 2009.

Hurry! The poll closes Sunday, November 30.

Essay #1 - The Way It’s Supposed to Be
Essay #2 - Giving Our Children Presence
Essay #3 - Grief and Presence
Essay #4 - What If…

Please click on the links to the essays above and then cast your vote in our poll.

[poll id="3"]

Choose your favorite two photos from the 2008 Attachment Parenting Month’s Photo Contest!

In October, parents e-mailed their photos showing what it means to give their children presence. A committee of API staff members has selected their favorites, and now it’s your turn to tell us who should receive prizes, which include a free one-year membership to API, a book by an AP expert author, and the opportunity to grace the cover of the new The Attached Family Magazine debuting in the spring of 2009.

Hurry! The poll closes Sunday, November 30.

Please note - the photo number is listed above the image.

[poll id="2"]

Before you go, take a look around this site at the virtual confetti following our month-long celebration: there were recorded activities in 14 states, several comments and don’t forget about the incredible blog carnival on API Speaks.

Though Attachment Parenting Month 2008 has drawn to a close, API is available year round providing parenting support as you continue to carry out the theme of “Giving Our Children Presence”.

“Giving Our Children Presence” is a timeless gift and to continue giving our presence to you as parents, we’ll be offering member specials through the 2008 holiday season.

AP Month 2009 is already in early planning stages, so stay in the loop and subscribe to API Links at www.attachmentparenting.org and start planning your ideas for next October when AP Month will be bigger and better.

Let the children cook dinner (or, for the little ones, help with dinner).

For today’s tip, as well as an archive of the entire month’s tips, please visit the AP Month Calendar of Presence.

Take a long walk together.

For today’s tip, as well as an archive of the entire month’s tips, please visit the AP Month Calendar of Presence.

Make cookies, bread or a simple dish together.

For today’s tip, as well as an archive of the entire month’s tips, please visit the AP Month Calendar of Presence.

Play your child’ favorite game as many times as they want and in just the way they want.

For today’s tip, as well as an archive of the entire month’s tips, please visit the AP Month Calendar of Presence.

Listen to your child’s stories. Let them narrate a story for you to write and they can illustrate.

For today’s tip, as well as an archive of the entire month’s tips, please visit the AP Month Calendar of Presence.