The approach

The success of five to thrive is founded on the fact that it is not a rigid, one-size-fits-all programme. Rather, an array of resources, tools and training content is available to help tailor a strategy that best fits with local needs and aims.

Central to the five to thrive approach is the set of five key activities:

Respond · Cuddle · Relax · Play · Talk

These are our ‘building blocks for a healthy brain’. They are drawn from research into the key processes of attachment and attunement that forge bonds between young children and their carers. Crucially, they are designed to support positive feedback processes, enabling practitioners to observe and reinforce positive interaction between parents and their children.

The five to thrive resources — printed guides, posters and banners — help parents and practitioners gain an appropriate awareness of the science of brain development while ensuring that the focus remains practical rather than academic. They support creative, individualised work with families as well as offering a range of suggestions to meet the needs of children at different ages.

Below is a short video from education Scotland discussing attachments and its importance
Attachments