Do you have a security blanket that you remember from your childhood? A lot of people do, but did you know there are actually many benefits associated with security blankets?
Not only are security blankets soft and gentle to the touch, which is wonderful for sensory development, but a treasured baby blanket can help babies and toddlers to feel safe, confident, fall asleep easier, and provide that much-needed sense of security.
Research shows a security blanket provides emotional support
There have been a number of studies showing that security blankets help support childhood development.
In 2007, Professor Bruce Hood from the University of Bristol and his colleague Dr. Paul Bloom of Yale University, USA, carried out a study on children and security blankets, with results indicating that security blankets possess an ‘invisible’ essence that contributes to a child’s sense of security and self. This essence cannot be replicated by duplicate objects. In other words, nothing can replace the feeling children get from their security blanket, explaining why some children experience a sense of loss if they lose their blanket lovey, or if it is taken away too early.
Security blankets are also great tools for boosting a child’s self-value and confidence levels. In fact, they can empower your child, helping him or her to break out of their shell.
You may find it surprising that a piece of fabric can be so powerful. But as with so many other things in life, it’s often the smallest things that can make the biggest difference.
As many parents know, it can be a big, and sometimes challenging step, for mom and/or dad to leave their child for the first time. This is another area where having a security blanket provides a lot of benefit. A security blanket can help a child through emotional moments like this because they act as a transitional object, providing the extra support needed to take first time steps. With a security blanket in tow, children who are typically shy feel more confident and focused, which is critical in their development.
Security blankets can act as “training wheels” for children
The benefits do not end there. Research has shown that security blankets can essentially act like training wheels for children. They provide them with a built-in feeling of security, which gives them the safety they need to take small risks, grow, and explore. Children feel like they can try different things that they otherwise might not feel confident enough to do.
As we know, children love to explore. Finding new things teaches them about their environment and helps them learn new things about themselves. Yet not all children have the confidence to explore the world without mom or dad by their side.
A security blanket can act as a substitute, helping your child take little risks. Children will feel freer, and they will then be more confident when it comes to taking bigger risks as they get older and their personalities develop further.
So there you have it: an insight into the different ways that a security blanket could be beneficial for your child. Blankets give your child a sense of security, help them to deal with difficult or emotional moments, and they can be a big confidence booster for shy children. When you take all of this into consideration, it is not difficult to see why there is no need for concern if your child is attached to their security blanket; let them hold on to it for just a little while longer.
