Separation Anxiety in Toddlers

 

Do you dread the despair of difficult daily drop-offs?

The woeful look on a toddler’s face when parting makes it hard for parents to walk away without feeling heartbroken and guilty. 

Most children become clingy between eighteen months and three years of age, and all kids experience anxiety at some point in their early years. So it’s normal and expected for toddlers to feel sad and stressed when saying goodbye. Every child is different, and they all develop at their own pace, so we never know when those painful partings will appear or fade away. Still, it is encouraging to know that children do outgrow separation anxiety. 

Parents need to help their children handle separation in a healthy way. In today’s episode, I dive into how to do that. I also explain why you should never sneak out after dropping your toddler off and share something I discovered that made a massive difference after many weeks of difficult drop-offs.

Stay tuned for more!

Show highlights:

  • Why must you avoid waiting around to see if your child has settled down?
  • How to make your child feel seen and understood.
  • Why you should never sneak out.
  • The benefits of developing a goodbye ritual.
  • How to prepare your child for daily drop-offs.
  • How I solved my daughter’s drop-off problems.
  • The importance of staying on the same team and asking your child how you can help.
  • How reading books helps with separation anxiety.
  • A way to stay connected after you leave.
  • Some coping skills you can teach your child to practice.
  • An E.A.S.Y. strategy for keeping calm in those tricky toddler moments. 

Links and resources:

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