PBS will be airing a three-part documentary series,This Emotional Life on January 4-6. Among other important components of happiness, the program details the importance of bonding with infants from the very first moments of their lives and continuing to build these bonds throughout childhood.

The quest for happiness is chronicled anecdotally through stories of ordinary people as well as celebrities like Katie Couric and Larry David. But it’s not just about stories. Experts in several fields including brain science and parenting present hard facts about happiness.

This Emotional Life presents scientific evidence to explain how social relationships — more than any other factor — are the key to human happiness. The flip side to healthy attachments are children with insecure attachments that are impulsive, lacking in self-confidence, and have difficulty relating to others throughout life

According to Dr. Jessica Zucker, a clinical psychologist and expert in early attachment, the way that babies connect, bond and “attach” securely with their moms, dads and primary caregivers helps determine their future happiness and ability to connect with all people.

How to Forge Strong Emotional Attachments with Your Children

Early attachment refers to establishing a healthy relationship bond between parent and baby. Ways to accomplish this include:

• consistency in behavior
• predictability in care
• relating and responding
• creating an atmosphere of protection and safety
• engaging in prolonged gazing and smiling
• skin to skin gentle touch
• cuddling and comforting
• thoughtful, reflective actions that build trust and affection

It’s Never Too Late to Bond

Bonds between parent and child are best established in the first moments of life, but can be developed and improved any time. Attitude is key, as is being willing to try new ways of parenting. Research reveals that understanding one's own history can help parents make choices that feel more astute or better understood. Becoming a parent stirs up feelings that may have never been experienced before, or may not have been dealt with during childhood. Addressing these feelings and old issues can make it easier to bond with your own child.

Check out This Emotional Life (see the program trailer here) to learn more about the importance of bonding and attachment, as well as the other components that go into creating a life that is, on balance, more happy than not.

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