Helping Children with Separation Anxiety Helping Children with Separation Anxiety It is commonplace for young children to struggle with separation and being around strangers. This is often termed Separation Anxiety and is a phase which children will normally grow out of. However, some children may be different to others and need further encouragement along the way. During the COVID lockdowns this has become more prevalent and works both ways between a parent and their child and we recognise that parents are just as likely to suffer from Separation Anxiety.
This month’s blog at Parkfield Nursery looks at how you can help your child with separation anxiety. For more details, call us in Carlisle on 01228 543034 .
What causes separation anxiety? As your baby starts to grow and become more conscious of their surroundings, they will begin to realise how dependent they are on their parent/carer. Therefore, this is around the time children can start to show signs of separation anxiety, as they have grown used to your presence and can feel unsafe if you are not there.
Short Term Separation A good place to start is leaving your child in the care of a trusted friend or family member whilst you go to get shopping etc, this will help the child to realise there are other people they can trust to look after them, not just you. In time you can gradually increase the time in which you are gone in order to further help your child get used to spending time away from you.
Make Plans for Your Return This will help your child realise that you will soon be back and giving them something to look forward to in the meantime. Not only will this help reassure them, but it will also help the time in which you are gone go by faster for them as they are focused on the planned activity when you return. In a sense leaving your child with something to look forward to will turn the whole experience into a positive.
Contact Us For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at Parkfield Nursery. Call us in Carlisle on 01228 543034 . Alternatively, you can make an enquiry through our contact form and we will be in touch.
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