Ecology is the relationship between persons and their environment. A caring ecological relationship is dynamic, able to be affected by the internal environment of the person and by the people/animal/plant/object external environmental surround in which a person lives. This paper attempts to examine the nature of ecology and how to facilitate the development of a caring ecological relationship between children and their child caregivers. Claiming that a caring ecological relationship is not based on cognition alone but is based, as well, on affect or emotion, the paper discusses the role and importance of attachment, separation, and individuating as well as the integration of the above three elements. The paper concludes that early and continued attachment relationships affect the development of an ethic of care and must precede any effort at teaching. Contains 22 references. (MOK)