Definition
It is not uncommon for very young children to throw tantrums and cry when Mom and Dad leave him with the babysitter. Separation anxiety typically first appears around the baby’s first birthday and is a completely normal step in emotional development. All infants will experience it to some degree, though some become more anxious than others. Just the same, it can still be unsettling and frustrating – perhaps more so for the parent than the child!
Progression
Every child varies in his or her development, so some children will go through this emotional step earlier than others. Generally, though, separation anxiety first hits when babies are about eight months old. It is at this age that they start to develop “object permanence,” meaning they are beginning to understand that things and people still exist even though they cannot see them. However, they do not yet comprehend that the …show more content…
For most, it peaks anywhere from ten to 18 months and fades away by their second birthday. Sometimes it can last into the early elementary school years, but as children get older, they rarely continue to be anxious at the idea of separation from parents. If they do, it is likely that there is another outside stressor such as bullying from classmates or they have a different anxiety disorder.
Coping Tips
The good news is that separation anxiety will eventually pass. In the meantime, there are a few tricks parents can use to make it more bearable for everyone involved:
• Avoid leaving the child with unfamiliar people between the ages of eight and 12 months, when his anxiety is at its most intense
• Try to time departures after mealtimes and naps
• Introduce new people and places slowly; invite the sitter to spend time with the child when a parent is present
• Stay calm and confident when leaving the child so he does not get worked
It is not uncommon for very young children to throw tantrums and cry when Mom and Dad leave him with the babysitter. Separation anxiety typically first appears around the baby’s first birthday and is a completely normal step in emotional development. All infants will experience it to some degree, though some become more anxious than others. Just the same, it can still be unsettling and frustrating – perhaps more so for the parent than the child!
Progression
Every child varies in his or her development, so some children will go through this emotional step earlier than others. Generally, though, separation anxiety first hits when babies are about eight months old. It is at this age that they start to develop “object permanence,” meaning they are beginning to understand that things and people still exist even though they cannot see them. However, they do not yet comprehend that the …show more content…
For most, it peaks anywhere from ten to 18 months and fades away by their second birthday. Sometimes it can last into the early elementary school years, but as children get older, they rarely continue to be anxious at the idea of separation from parents. If they do, it is likely that there is another outside stressor such as bullying from classmates or they have a different anxiety disorder.
Coping Tips
The good news is that separation anxiety will eventually pass. In the meantime, there are a few tricks parents can use to make it more bearable for everyone involved:
• Avoid leaving the child with unfamiliar people between the ages of eight and 12 months, when his anxiety is at its most intense
• Try to time departures after mealtimes and naps
• Introduce new people and places slowly; invite the sitter to spend time with the child when a parent is present
• Stay calm and confident when leaving the child so he does not get worked