Are you struggling with your toddler’s separation anxiety?

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A post shared by Dr Debmita Dutta - Parenting Expert (@debmitadutta)

Are you struggling with your toddler’s separation anxiety?

Then remember this – 

IT IS NORMAL FOR YOUR CHILD TO HAVE SEPARATION ANXIETY 

1. Your child is programmed to feel anxious when you are not around so that they don’t go far away from you

2. Your child is programmed to cry loudly when they don’t see you so that you hear them and feel guilty and come back to take care of them.

But you must act to reduce their anxiety.

Because separation anxiety can come in the way of learning

Here are 3 things you need to do – 

1. Reduce your own anxiety

Your child’s brain has mirror neurons. 
These mirror neurons pick up your emotions.
If you are anxious your child gets even more anxious.
This results in your child clinging to you and crying.
If you are struggling with anxiety reach out for help

2. Explain and empathize

Don’t keep telling your child that school will be lots of fun
At first school may not be fun.
Your child may feel lonely and scared in school without you.
They may feel like crying.
Explain this to your child so that they are prepared for the negative emotions. Also tell them that it is completely normal to feel like crying.
If your child only expects positive emotions, they will get scared when they experience negative emotions in school and cry even more

3. Do not be overprotective

When your child is crying you may feel like protecting them from the world by keeping them at home, or carrying them in your lap or talking to the teacher for a long time about your child or waiting outside the school even after the gates have closed.
All these will make your child feel even more scared.
Your over protection will convince your child that there is some real danger.
Walk in purposefully – say a cheerful goodbye and leave promptly.

Type NO MORE TEARS and end separation anxiety now

Share this with a parent who is making the above mistakes so that they realize and change.

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