How to Soothe Separation Anxiety

The bond between parent and child is unbreakable and unconditional. It’s a loving connection like no other, which is why it can be heartbreaking and stressful trying to help a little one cope with separation anxiety.

In an ideal world, moms and dads would have the luxury of spending as much time with their children as they want. However, responsibilities from work and other life demands require parents to be away more than they would prefer.

Calm the Nerves: Putting your Child’s Worries to Rest

Fortunately, there are tips and techniques available for helping your child overcome their fear of being out of your sight.

It will be beneficial to discuss these with your son or daughter’s caretaker before leaving them alone for the first time. Strive to make this a team effort; one that will reinforce the comfort, safety, and security your little one needs to cope during this emotionally tense time.

Kiss their hand goodbye

This is a cute way to reassure your child that you will not be gone for too long. Make it special by telling them to keep the kiss until you get back home. This is a meaningful way to show them you are always in their thoughts. It may seem trivial to you, but to a child this sort of thing can make the difference between a comfortable and an anxious day.

Play the “see you later” game

Parting does not always have to be full of sweet sorrow. An excellent way to keep your little one in good spirits is by making your morning departure fun and exciting. Create a few cards with titles like kiss on the cheek, hug goodbye, high-five and other upbeat activities. Have them choose a card that will dictate what you will do before you part ways. They will look forward to a fun morning activity instead of fearing your departure.

Distract them

Children are known for having short attention spans. That temper tantrum can be effectively stopped by changing the subject from mommy or daddy leaving to something more entertaining. Distract them with questions such as what activities they want to play, or what snack they want after lunch. This technique has worked wonder for plenty of parents and nannies struggling with separation anxiety.

The key is to make your child comfortable. Whether it be reassurance that you’ll be home at the end of the day or an activity to make the morning more enjoyable, separation anxiety can be effectively soothed by these helpful tips.