Childhood Separation Anxiety: How Therapy Can Help You

Don’ts

Negative feedback will only provoke negative behavior and feelings. Parents are discouraged to allow children to stay home from school if they display signs of separation anxiety or say they do not want to go. It is good to keep a routine and not spring on new activities or events out of the blue. Experts suggest focusing on the positive, rather than negative things that could arise in a child’s fearful situations. Rewarding small victories rather than punishing poor behavior, which results from a child’s anxiety, is also encouraged.

Do’s

A number of positive factors in a child’s life will help him or her cope with separation anxiety. These include parents who focus on fun activities, help children get settled at school in the morning and leave, communicate when they will return and give reminders that they always have in the past, compliment children for good behavior, and help a child describe and visualize how a superhero would tackle the problem.