April News

What Is Separation Anxiety?

In early childhood, crying, tantrums, or clinginess are healthy reactions to separation and a normal stage of development. Separation anxiety can begin before a child's first birthday, and may pop up again or last until a child is four years old. However, both the intensity level and timing of separation anxiety vary tremendously from child to child. A little worry over leaving a parent is normal, even when your child is older. You can ease your child's separation anxiety by staying patient and consistent, and by gently but firmly setting limits.

How to ease separation anxiety

Practice separation. Leave your child with a caregiver for brief periods and short distances at first. As your child gets used to separation, you can gradually leave for longer and travel further.

Develop a quick "goodbye" ritual. Rituals are reassuring and can be as simple as a special wave through the window or a goodbye kiss. Keep things quick, though, so you can:

Leave without fanfare. Tell your child you are leaving and that you will return, then go—don't stall or make it a bigger deal than it is.

Try not to give in. Reassure your child that they will be just fine—setting consistent limits will help your child's adjustment to separation.

For more information please speak to your child/rens teacher. Separation anxiety is normal and you are not the first or last to experience it, you are not alone and you are doing a great job