What term describes an emotional tie that young children show by seeking closeness to their caregiver?

The term that best describes the emotional tie young children display by seeking closeness to their caregiver is attachment. Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth, emphasizes the importance of the bond between a child and their primary caregiver, which can significantly influence the child's emotional and social development. This attachment is characterized by behaviors such as seeking proximity, feeling comforted by the caregiver, and displaying distress when separated.

While bonding and affection also relate to emotional connections, bonding often refers to the mutual feelings developed between parents and children over time, and affection is a broader term that describes warmth and fondness, not specifically the closeness-seeking behavior. Intimacy generally pertains to deeper relationships and connections, typically associated with adults, and does not capture the essence of the specific caregiver-child dynamic in early childhood. Thus, attachment is the most accurate term to describe this crucial developmental aspect.