As an adoptive mother, educator, and researcher, I’ve learned something powerful: children don’t just need love—they need hope. And hope, like attachment, can be built.

Attachment theory tells us that strong emotional bonds give children a sense of safety, identity, and the confidence to explore their world. But what happens when early relationships are disrupted? How do we help children rebuild that trust?

This is where the science of hope comes in. According to psychologist C.R. Snyder (2002), hope is not just a feeling—it’s a cognitive process built on goals, pathways, and agency. In other words, hope gives children a roadmap to believe that tomorrow can be better—and that they can play a role in getting there.

Even more encouraging: hope is measurable. And what we can measure, we can grow.

By using simple tools—like the Children’s Hope Scale—we can begin to understand where a child is struggling: Is it goal-setting? Feeling stuck? Lacking belief in themselves? From there, we can respond with connection, structure, and meaningful conversations that rebuild both hope and attachment.

Every moment we help a child feel safe, seen, and capable; we’re not just healing—we’re planting the seeds of a hopeful future.