The Foundation of Love in the Earliest Years
The expression of love in a child’s earliest years is not only natural but essential, both spiritually and psychologically. The Maggid of Mezritch[1] taught that the intense love parents instinctively feel for their young children is rooted in a deep spiritual reality: a child’s conception is drawn forth from a level of ta’anug—pleasure—that is bound with the Divine will itself, the very power that enables creation and procreation. Because this inner pleasure remains more revealed in the early years of a child’s life, it naturally generates a stronger emotional closeness between parent and child. This spiritual bond finds a clear parallel in child psychology. Developmental research, particularly attachment theory, emphasizes that consistent expressions of love, warmth, and nurturing in infancy and early childhood form the foundation of a child’s sense of safety, trust, and self‑worth. When young children experience emotional closeness—through affection, responsiveness, and presence—they develop secure attachment, which supports healthy emotional regulation, confidence, and relationships later in life. Conversely, when such expressions are absent or inconsistent, even at very young ages, children may internalize insecurity, anxiety, or emotional withdrawal, impairing their ability to trust and connect. Thus, both Torah wisdom and psychological understanding converge on the same truth: the early years are a unique window in which expressed love is not merely beneficial, but formative, shaping the child’s inner world for years to come.
[1] Maggid Devarav LeYaakov Torah 233