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Fear is part of growing up. Every child is going to feel anxiety when it’s time to be away from Mom and Dad for the first time... and for many times thereafter, perhaps. You just need to ease that fear as much as possible. But there are good ways and wrong ways to do this.
The first thing to remember when trying to cure separation anxiety with your child is that using adult logic doesn’t work. This separation anxiety that they’re feeling is an emotion that words can’t cure. Body language needs to do the work. Your toddler won’t be able to comprehend that “everything will be okay,” because they surely don’t think it will.
Allow your child to feel fearful. It’s a natural emotion that everyone feels from time to time. You need to instead help your child realize that everything will be okay... not by telling her that things will be fine, but by showing her. Introduce her to some other people in the place she’s going to be, whether it’s at a babysitter’s house or at a classroom. Introduce her to other kids and to the teachers.
Be there for your child. If your child is afraid of being away from your care, don’t let her feel as if she is away from you. Go to the class. Let her hang on you as long as she wants, until something distracts her away from you. Don’t encourage her to leave you. Sit in the classroom for part of a morning if you must... or even stand outside the classroom so your child knows you are there right outside the door if she needs you.
Separation anxiety is a very real problem facing many children. It’s a serious issue that is not easily overcome. If you encourage your children to be away from you--you’re in essence telling them that being around you is not what you want. When that absolutely is not true. Let them naturally feel more comfortable in their new surroundings until they feel relaxed enough to let go.
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