9781422280638

12

Separation Anxiety

All kids are different, and so are their reactions to separation. A lot of it depends on the child’s personality. Some kids are only mildly bothered by separation anxiety, and they can be easily cheered up. With just a bit of distraction, these more “mellow” kids quickly get over being upset that Mom left for work. Kids with more worried personalities might be harder to distract. They feel miserable, even inconsolable, for a while. There are babies who panic when Mom simply leaves the room , never mind leaves the house! This is tough on the rest of the family. But even these kids usually grow out of their anxiety in time. There are steps families can take to help make the process easier, and later in the book we will talk about what parents and siblings can do to make little ones feel more secure. The exact timing of separation anxiety can also vary from child to child. It can begin anywhere from about eight months old to about two years old. And it often comes back when school starts, around four or five years old. Going out on your own—even to a friendly place like a nursery school or kindergarten— can be very intimidating for little kids. Sometimes separation anxiety is kicked off by a big life change, like starting day care or moving to a new house. But this is a natural part of life, and most of the time, the anxiety goes away on its own. Chances are good that you went through this yourself at some point but barely remember it now. You may not remember it at all!

Educational Video Here is a video with

more information about separation anxiety in teens.