Helpful advice on Separation anxiety
Parents are anxious when looking for a nursery for their child. They are worried that their child will not receive the same amount of care, love and attention. Separation anxiety is a big problem with every child who goes to a nursery, but most of the time, parents are helpless.
What is separation anxiety?
Separation anxiety is an emotional stage that develops in babies when they start realizing object permanence, a situation when little ones understand that people and things exist even when they are not present. Being separated from parents is the biggest cause of this anxiety. Babies are helpless, and they show symptoms of anxiety when they are 6-7 months, but the peak time is between 10-18 months.
While you leave your tiny one and head off to work, it’s your duty to make sure that your child is not affected by the separation and feels secure. There are many children who fall in love with the new environment and the company of other toddlers around, but some suffer from acute separation anxiety. Do not panic; this is all normal. As a parent, you will never want your child to be sad or cry for long hours. Primarily, you need to understand your children’s fears and needs and then assist him/her in the best possible way during this transition period.
When children are uncomfortable, they look for their parents so it’s you who can soothe all the anxieties. Spending quality time with your child is very important, especially before leaving the child at a nursery and after bringing back home. This will make the child feel relaxed and secure, and if you decide to leave your child at a nursery, you should be confident. Once your confidence is visible, the child will automatically be comfortable.
Children show their tantrums before reaching nursery, but you should keep calm. Be consistent by sticking to the schedule you have planned.
Whenever you get time, speak positively to your child about nurseries, tell nice stories about nursery about who they are going to see. You can borrow books on going to nursery from the library and read these stories at bedtime.
No Long Goodbyes
Please do not spend a long time saying goodbye as it might be stressful for your little one. You can hand over his/her favourite toy to the child’s key person so that it acts as a distraction. Once you say the final goodbye, try your hardest not to go back as this will only prolong the separation. Keep the separation time as short as possible.
This transition period may last up to two weeks, but it all depends on your toddler. If you find that your child is really distressed, then speak to the nursery to see if they have any suggestions. It’s very upsetting to see your baby howling and crying as you leave for work. At this stage, the key person is your reassurance. Do call up the nursery in-between work or during the break time to make sure that your baby is fine.
Each and every child is different, so the pain of separation varies from one child to another. Time is the best healer, so you need to be patient and wait for the time when your baby will get accustomed to the new routine.
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