Starting school is a major milestone for children and parents, but it can also bring some big emotions. Separation anxiety in kids is especially common when children are preparing for their first year of school. This is a result of needing to adjust to spending more time away from their parents or caregivers and navigating an unfamiliar environment.
For some children, a little extra preparation and reassurance can make this life transition easier. Others may need additional support managing anxiety around separation, school, or other changes. At Rebound Total Health, our team provides therapy for kids and adolescents experiencing anxiety, helping young people understand their emotions, develop healthy coping strategies, and feel more confident navigating new experiences.
In this post, we explore how separation anxiety in kids can be managed during this transition period.
What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is actually a regular stage of development during the early years of a child’s life! Since children are used to being with their parents all the time, the first time they need to stay away – especially to school, an unknown place filled with new sounds and sights – it can feel scary. At this time, children may cry, throw tantrums, or cling to you for dear life.
How Can I Help My Child Manage Anxiety?
There are many ways to slowly prepare for that first day of school!
- Leading up to the first day, you can practice separation by leaving children with trusted caregivers, such as nannies or relatives. When children see you leave and come back, and especially if you promise to come back at a certain time and do it, this builds trust and confidence, making separation less scary.
- When you do leave, do it in one go! Although this can be really hard, prolonging the leave makes it a big deal. Instead, it can be better to be totally ready to leave, let your child know that you’re going, and then just go.
- Create a meaningful goodbye ritual that’s quick and comforting, like a high five or a hug.
Tips for Parents With an Anxious Child
Although that first separation might be super hard for your child, it’s definitely not easy for you either. Getting your child ready and seeing them upset can be stressful, especially when you have other life deadlines waiting. Try out strategies such as pausing, naming your feelings, or reducing your internal pressure to be perfect to manage your stress.
When does separation anxiety go from being a regular developmental stage to a disorder?
Separation anxiety disorder is one of the most common anxiety disorders faced by children. This often looks like an absolute refusal to leave due to fear of being separated, refusal to sleep away from parent/caregiver, excessive distress, persistent worry that harm will come to the parent/caregiver or that separation will occur, and repeated nightmares of separation. To determine if your child has separation anxiety disorder, please consult a diagnosing professional.
Get Therapeutic Support for Your Child With Rebound Total Health
While some children with this disorder can be supported with some education and encouragement, at times pharmacological and therapeutic methods, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), can also be beneficial. If you believe your child could benefit from therapeutic support, book a free consultation with one of our therapists at Rebound Total Health.
At Rebound Total Health, our team provides therapy and mental health support for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families across Ontario, helping clients work through anxiety and a range of emotional, behavioural, and relationship concerns.
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