Separation anxiety in young children

You may feel scared just thinking about leaving your child in daycare or in the care of a babysitter. Virtually all parents have dropped off their children at one time or another at daycare or with an experienced caregiver, but the crying of their children when they see them go has torn their hearts. It is not for less, but it is a normal response of young children when their parents move away.

When a small child sees his parents leave, they think they will not return. She will learn over time and after much crying, that her parents will come back when they leave but right now, when she has separation anxiety, it is because she still has a hard time understanding this completely.

WANTS TO BE BY YOUR SIDE

Young children are designed to spend as much time as possible with their parents. They have a very strong bond with their parents and they will only feel good by their side, as well as with the rest of the family who have bond; siblings, grandparents, uncles, etc.

Until a young child is attached to his caregiver and knows that he can meet his needs, he will not feel totally safe. Therefore, your task will be to find the ways in which your child can bond with the caregiver , help the caregiver understand your child and meet their needs.

HOW TO HELP A CHILD WITH SEPARATION ANXIETY

Facilitates the bond with their caregiver

Young children have trouble doing things for themselves, they begin to feel safe with another person, when they have a good emotional bond. The only way to help your young child overcome his discomfort when you leave is for him to develop a great relationship with his caregiver.

When you leave he will still protest, but his caregiver should know how to comfort him, so the protest will be brief. If you keep crying for more than 15 minutes, it means that you are not yet ready to accept the comfort of the new person. So how do you get a better relationship?

First, you should allow your child to have good experiences with their caregiver in your presence. Second, you will need to interact cordially with their caregiver in the presence of your child. Lastly, you can put a picture of your caregiver on the fridge and talk about him or her from time to time.

That you feel comfortable in the new situation

Spend time making this experience work for your young child. To achieve this, spend a few mornings or parts of the morning at the caregiver’s home or at the nursery, before leaving your child there without you. Facilitate your child’s bond with other children, but especially with the caregiver.

When your child engages in an activity, sit back to be present but not too involved.

Start with short separations

When your child begins to feel comfortable in this new situation and begins to develop a closer relationship with their caregiver, begin to leave them for short periods of time, start by saying goodbye and leaving, and then return as soon as they stop crying.

Then follow up with shorter absences so your child learns that you will always return and can get used to the separations as you gradually expand your absences. But the important thing is that you do not return while he is crying, because he will think that his crying can bring you back and he will cry a lot and for a long time waiting for you to return with that strategy .

Goodbye routines are very important

It is important that you have a goodbye routine so that he knows that you are leaving, do not sneak away when he is distracted because then he will feel abandoned. Giving him a kiss, a hug and telling him that you love him and that you will come back to pick him up at 3 in the afternoon is a good way to say goodbye. Resist the urge to lengthen the parting too long or to make it too short. This way your child will know what to expect and that of course, you will come back to find him.