Fall often brings changes in school routines – and for little ones going to preschool or daycare, these transitions can be filled with tearful goodbyes. Pediatric neuropsychologist Dr. Kristen Wiik has some perspective and helpful hints for parents who might be dealing with separation anxiety. “If you’re concerned about separation anxiety, you’re doing the right thing by seeking solutions,” she explains. “Many parents hear from teachers and daycare providers that their child’s anxiety resolves soon after they leave their child. Unfortunately, this does little to reduce the emotional departures parents are experiencing – but be encouraged that these tough transitions often pass quickly. Sometimes these experiences may actually be more traumatic for the parents than they are for their kids.”
According to Dr. Wiik, most children experience an increase in separation anxiety around age 12-18 months. This is indeed a normal pattern in children with healthy attachments to their caregiver(s). This anxiety often passes as a child gets older, and reactions to separation anxiety can also change with age. (more…)