Separation Anxiety Help
I was visiting with some other moms the other day and we were talking about how hard it us to leave the house by ourselves when our children are so super attached to us. When my daughter screams and cries when I have to go out in the evening to run errands it makes me feel guilty and it makes my husband feel like she doesn’t want to be around him. Our problem is very minor compared to those of the parents who have to take their kids to daycare everyday. I can’t imagine the stress of watching the time slip away in the morning while you try to drop your screaming kids off and get to work on time. Kids Health has some great advice:
Making Goodbyes Easier
These strategies can help ease kids and parents through this difficult period:
Timing is everything. Try not to start day care or child care with an unfamiliar person when your little one is between the ages of 8 months and 1 year, when separation anxiety is first likely to appear. Also, try not to leave when your child is likely to be tired, hungry, or restless. If at all possible, schedule your departures for after naps and mealtimes.
Practice. Practice being apart from each other, and introduce new people and places gradually. If you’re planning to leave your child with a relative or a new babysitter, then invite that person over in advance so they can spend time together while you’re in the room. If your child is starting at a new day care center or preschool, make a few visits there together before a full-time schedule begins. Practice leaving your child with a caregiver for short periods of time so that he or she can get used to being away from you.
Be calm and consistent. Create a exit ritual during which you say a pleasant, loving and firm goodbye. Stay calm and show confidence in your child. Reassure him or her that you’ll be back — and explain how long it will be until you return using concepts kids will understand (such as after lunch) because your child can’t yet understand time. Give him or her your full attention when you say goodbye, and when you say you’re leaving, mean it; coming back will only make things worse.
Follow through on promises. It’s important to make sure that you return when you have promised to. This is critical — this is how your child will develop the confidence that he or she can make it through the time apart. (read more)
image: BBC
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