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Separation Anxiety in Children
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First Years Last Forever
  
by the Shelton School Readiness Council
 

Separation Anxiety in Young Children

 

The beginning of a new school year is right around the corner and some degree of separation anxiety in young children is to be expected, according to Carol E. Watkins, M.D. Reluctance to

Be separated from one's caregiver is a normal, healthy response in young children and indicates the development of a healthy attachment.  When a child starts to walk on it's own, fear of strange animals is an adaptive response.

 

Some degree of separation anxiety is a sign that the preschooler has developed healthy attachments to loved ones.  In many cases, it stops within three to four minutes after the parent leaves.

 

The most common times for separation fears are: eight months, twelve months and anywhere between 18 months to three years.  Separation anxiety generally emerges around nine months of age and peaks around 12-24 months.

 

The child's crying and clinging can express two different messages.  First, the child might cry for fear their parent will be gone forever.  The second situation is when the child, often after a fairly good day, begins to cry when the parent returns.  This is because the parent's return reminds the child how he or she felt when the parent left.  The degree of separation anxiety may vary from day to day.  One day, the child may be anxious to go and another day, clingy and sad.

 

Factors that may contribute to separation anxiety include:

 

Tiredness

Minor of major illness

Changes in household routine

Family changes such as birth of sibling, divorce, death or illness

Change in caregiver or routine at day care center

 

Additionally, factors that may reduce the chances of developing separation anxiety are:

 

Start occasionally using a babysitter by six months of age.  This helps the child tolerate short periods away from the parent and encourages him or her to build trust in other adults.

 

Even though children of this age do not know how to engage in cooperative play, start contact with peers by 12 months.  By age three, the child should be experiencing play groups.

 

Some form of preschool may be helpful by age 3 or 4.  This is especially important for children who seem overly dependent on their parents.

 

We hope all these pointers for parents will ease the transition to a new school year that much easier.

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