<![CDATA[Socio-emotional development is a crucial aspect of early childhood development, as it relates to a child's ability to recognize and manage emotions, build relationships with others, and adapt to their social environment. One factor influencing a child's socio-emotional development is parental attachment. Parental attachment refers to the emotional bond formed between a child and their parents, providing the child with a sense of security, comfort, and support throughout their developmental journey. This study aimed to examine the role of parental attachment in the socio-emotional development of children aged 4 to 6 years. The research was conducted at TK Pembina Negeri Kesetnana in South Central Timor, involving 53 children aged 4 to 6 years selected through purposive sampling. A quantitative research method was employed. Data were collected using questionnaires comprising scales for parental attachment and socio-emotional development. The maternal attachment scale used was the Inventory of Parent Attachment developed by Armsden and Greenberg (2009), while the socio-emotional development scale was developed by Squires, Bricker, and Twombly (2002). Simple linear regression was used for data analysis. The findings indicate that parental attachment has a positive and significant influence on the socio-emotional development of children aged 4 to 6 years (accounting for 93.5% of the variance); this implies that stronger parental attachment enhances early childhood socio-emotional development. It is hoped that parents will foster secure and comfortable relationships with their children and understand their needs and characteristics—factors that influence mental health—thereby promoting socio-emotional development in early childhood.]]>
