In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been renewed focus on providing social emotional support to children in out-of-school programs. This article looks at some simple things you can do to improve your program’s capacity to help kids cope with big emotions.
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During the toddler years (8 months to 1 year), many Childcare Chinderah start to become more independent and have a harder time being separated from their parents. They may start to cry, cling to their caregivers, or become agitated when you leave them. During this stage, it’s normal to try to calm them by telling them everything will be okay and that you love them. But don’t use negative phrasing like, “Suck it up,” or “Stop being a baby,” as this will likely only make their behavior worse.
As your child ages into preschool, they become more able to understand the impact of their separation anxiety on you—and the world around them. They’re more capable of reasoning through their feelings and will likely be able to calm themselves with self-talk, or by talking about them with you.
If your child’s anxiety doesn’t subside by the time they’re in elementary school, it’s a good idea to talk to your pediatrician—it could be a sign of something more serious than separation anxiety. Some kids with severe, persistent separation anxiety continue to struggle well into their teens and beyond. These kids will often miss out on social activities, rely on their parents for rides to school or work and have trouble sleeping at home.