What to do if your child has separation anxiety?

Different parents will take different approaches to the problem of separation anxiety in children. Some parents will take rougher approaches and may even yell at their children. This is definitely wrong. On the other hand, those parents with softer hearts will take a gentler approach, but being too gentle is not good either. For the problem of separation anxiety in children, you can try the following solutions.

What to do if your child has separation anxiety?

When you are ready to separate from your child, make it clear to him that you will return to him.

The child is anxious mainly because he is not sure whether or when the child will come back, and he lacks a sense of security at this time. Tell him clearly when you will be back, or tell him that you will come to see him in a while.

Give your child a process of adaptation

It will definitely take a process for a child to transition from being dependent on his parents to being able to play freely even when he is not around. Children need to be allowed to adapt to this process slowly. For example, at first you can watch the child play from the side, then you can leave for 1 or 2 minutes and then come back to him. At the same time, other people can accompany him to increase the interaction with him, and then you can gradually extend the time you are away from his sight.

When the child has basically adapted, you should be more decisive.

After a period of training, when the child can basically adapt to having others around, if you need to leave for something, you should be more decisive. The child may still cry, but you cannot compromise just because he cries. Otherwise, the child's strong sense of dependence may be re-established. Children need to accept this process slowly.

Need cooperation from other caregivers

When children's attention is focused on you, it is probably difficult for them to walk away. When the child starts to become unhappy about being left, other caregivers can use various methods to divert his attention and entertain him. Children's attention is easily attracted.

When children have separation anxiety, they need to be comforted appropriately

When a child cries because he or she is leaving, parents should give the child appropriate comfort. This kind of comfort can make the child feel more at ease, reduce the anxiety, and then use other things to divert his or her attention. Don't scold or punish your child because of his or her emotions. This will not only fail to ease the situation, but will make the child's inner anxiety even stronger.