Volume I
October 1,
2002
We all know how exciting and rewarding it is to have a young child.
Every day is a new experience as they are constantly changing and developing.
The changes they undergo seem just short of remarkable and each accomplishment
is better than the next. This is such a critical time in the life of
a child as well as for you as a parent. There are so many different
developments taking place and so many ways of responding to the changes brought
about by these developments.
One development that requires specific attention is emotional development.
At this young age, children feel so many different emotions and often have
a hard time distinguishing what they mean or why they feel that way.
Children feel emotions so strongly and are affected by them more so than
adults at first. A major issue surrounding emotional development is
separation anxiety.
Separation anxiety occurs in the first few years of a child’s life and can
be quite traumatizing. It can be defined as the emotional acting out
of children upon the departure of their parent(s), which can become quite
a dramatic event. I realize that this is also quite a trying time for
you, as parents, and I, as a teacher, want to help both you and your child
in dealing with it.
Feelings to recognize and understand
∑ FEAR- children often fear that you will not be returning and they may never
see you again.
∑ ANGER- children become angry with you for leaving them and may even feel
a bit betrayed.
∑ CONFUSION- children become confused by the reason for your leaving and
often do not understand why they cannot go along with you. There is
also some degree of confusion regarding where you are going and why you cannot
stay with them.
∑ LONLINESS – the feeling described above combine to produce loneliness within
your child.
Transition Time
To make the transition from home to child care/school easier, send
familiar things from home to soothe the child when he or she is feeling lonely.
Follow a routine each day when you drop your child off. For example
give them a hug, tell them where you will be going (work, ect.) and remind
them of when you will be returning. Then watch them join their group
or class before you leave.
Above all you should acknowledge your child’s feelings and identify with
them. If he or she tells you they are sad because you have to go, let
them know you feel the same way and will miss them just as much.
Communication is
The key
Another way to efficiently cope with separation anxiety is to communicate
with the child’s teacher. Let them know about your concerns and work
together to ease your worry. Many times teachers are very willing to
give suggestions and feedback about the situation. Take into consideration
all the suggestions they give you and work together to develop a plan that
will be in the best interest of the child.
Take it from Me!
Personally, I as a teacher will do everything I can to assist you in dealing
with this issue. Also in the classroom I will make every effort to
comfort your child and help them overcome this anxiety. I may incorporate
talking about family in the lesson or may also have other children talk with
him or her about when and if they have ever missed a loved one.
Separation anxiety is a significant event in the emotional development of
a child as it aids children in identifying their feelings. It is important
to remember that this is only temporary and may pass somewhat quickly, but
still needs a lot of attention. Let your child express their feelings
and do whatever you can to help them. I am always available to answer
any questions or address any concerns you may have. Plea