How to deal with separation of anxiety in children

The tearful and tantrum filled good bye the child bids in its early years is really an unfortunate event. The child may generally develop separation anxiety around its first birthday which in other words means that the parent leaves him with some one else and upsets the child.

Separation anxiety, in a child, develops when the child is removed from those who care for it and with whom it is attached and accustomed to remain all along. A six months child will adjust well with circumstances as long as its needs are adequately met.

Infants have no concept of time

Between four and seven months, the child develops object permanence and knows that people are present even when it cannot see them. It is at this point it learns to play games like dropping things over the side of high objects looking for them and expecting adults to get them back. When the parent leaves, this is repeated. But at this stage the child has not concept of time and does not know when the parent will return.

When the child is one year old it becomes more independent though uncertain about separation from the parent. Separation anxiety starts at this state and it becomes agitated and upset. Separation anxiety varies from child to child, some feeling it later after two years and some more not feeling at all.

We cannot decide on the duration of separation anxiety in children, in general, as it varies from child to child. It also depends upon the adjustment between the parent and the child and their response. A few children feel separation anxiety through out their elementary school years. It is only when separation anxiety interferes with the child’s normal and day to day activities it can be recognized as a symptom of deeper anxiety disorders.