To form a child’s character, it is needed fundamental requirements for the formation of a good personality. According to Megawangi (2003), there are three basic needs of children that must be met; they are maternal bonding, safety, and physical and mental stimulation.
1. Maternal bonding (psychological proximity to the mother) is an important base in the formation of character because this aspect plays a role in the formation of basic trust to other people (trust) in children. This proximity makes the child feel cared and secure so that creating a sense of trust. According to Erikson, the basic belief that is grown through mother-child relationship in the first years of a child's life will give provision for child's success in the social life when he grows up. In other words, strong emotional bond between mother and the child in the early age can form good personality in children.
2. The need for security is the child’s need of stable and secure environment. This need is important for the formation of child’s character due to the environment changing will harm the baby's emotional development. Caregivers changing will also negatively affect the emotional development of children. According to Bowlby (in Megawangi, 2003), it is normal for a baby to seek contact with only one person (usually the mother) in the early stages of infancy. Child's emotional chaos that occurs in the absence of security sense alleged by the nutritionists is associated with trouble eating in children. Of course, this is not conducive to optimal child growth.
3. The need of physical and mental stimulation is also important aspect in the formation of character. Of course, this requires great attention from parents and reciprocal reaction between a mother and her child. According to some children education experts, a mother who is very attentive (measured from the frequency of the mother looking at her son's eyes, stroking, holding, and speaking to her son) to her children aged under six months will affect the attitude of the baby to be happy child, enthusiastic exploring environment, and a creative child.
