Transcript Separation Anxiety Powerpoint

Information from:
Child Care Support Network
By: Rebecca Chopp
How Separation Anxiety Develops
Separation anxiety is a normal part of child development
 Separation anxiety varies widely from child to child
 It may end when toddlers begin to understand that
parents may be out of sight, but they will return later
 Some children will undergo some degree of anxiety
when placed in unfamiliar situations, especially when
separated from parents.
Situations that can trigger stress and
anxiety for young children include
 New child care setting or teacher
 New brother or sister
 Moving to a new home
 Tension at home (such as a divorce, death, or serious illness)
 A parents service in the military
 An extremely scary event that a child experiences personally (such as a
nightmare or a bad storm)
 A child who is naturally shy may experience anxiety more than other
children
Anxiety at Different Ages
 First few months- Babies can usually be calmed by any
loving person, regardless of his or her relationship to
the child
 7-14 months- By about 7 months, babies recognize
there’s only one mom or dad, but they do not
understand when they’ll come back. This phase is
often called “stranger anxiety,” because even the
happiest child becomes shy or fearful around everyone
but the primary caregiver. This phase generally peaks
before 18 months.
Anxiety at Different Ages,
Continued….
Toddler/preschool years- Children can become
anxious and emotional when a parent or primary
caregiver leaves, but they can be distracted by
activities with the caregiver or other children.
Age 5- By this age, most children are secure
enough to be dropped off at a child care center or
school with out distress. Separation anxiety may
be diagnosed as a disorder if symptoms persist
longer than four weeks in a child older than age 5.
When feeling anxious about separation, young children
display many different behaviors, including:
Crying or whining
Clinginess (holding hand or leg, wanting to be held,
hiding behind parent)
Shyness
Silence (instead of constant talking or babbling)
Unwillingness to interact with others, even if they are
familiar people
What are Anxiety Disorders?
 Most children outgrow separation anxiety by about
age 5.
 Some children experience a continuation or
reoccurrence of separation anxiety into their
elementary school years.
 About one in every 25 children experience SAD
Examples of Anxiety Disorders
 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
 Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Red Flags
The following symptoms are a problem if they interfere with a
child’s functioning and last more than four weeks:
 Nightmares about harm, danger, death, or separation
 Excessive distress during routine separations from the
parent or other family member
 Repeated physical complaints (such as headaches or
stomachaches)
 Panics if parent or other family member is late for pick-
ups-needs frequent reassurance of pick-up plan
Red Flags Continued……
 Reluctance to go to sleep without a significant adult nearby
 Recurrent reluctance to go to school or other places
because of fear of separation
 Inability to attend birthday parties or field trips
independently
 In general, when anxiety is inappropriate or excessive,
interferes with normal activities, and lasts for weeks rather
than days, it is a good idea to have a psychiatrist evaluate
the child.
Treatment
 Addressing physical symptoms
 Identifying anxious thoughts
 Helping the child understand that the parent will return
 Offering possible explanations for where the parent is
 A good first step would be to have one parent leave for 15
minutes while the child stays with the other parent. This
will build trust with both parents
Establish a Plan for Separation and Reunion
Develop Coping Strategies
 Whenever possible, schedule separations after naps or
feedings.
 Develop a “goodbye” ritual
 Establish consistency
 Be calm, and when you say you’re leaving, go
 Make new surroundings as familiar as possible
Promote trust and security about separation
when a child is a little older:
 Read stories and remind the child of success. Find a child’s
story that incorporates the theme of separation anxiety.
Talk to the child and remind them of times when he/she
was brave or did something independently.
 Honor all commitments to the child, especially time
commitments. Pick up the child up at the specified time
you told him or her. This builds trust and security.
 Recognize that unfamiliar surroundings can trigger anxiety.
A child should see a new child care center at least once
before left their alone.
Parental Recommendations in reducing
separation anxiety
Change the subject. Distraction can work well with
some children.
Be truthful. Sometimes simple reassurance works,
such as telling a child, “Don’t cry. Mommy and
Daddy always come back.”
Bring pleasant reminders of home. Items of the
child, such as their box of crayons or a photo
album.
Summary
Separation anxiety is a normal stage of
development. No one can prevent it, but it is
possible to prepare children for absences and
develop coping strategies.