If you have children, you may have already experienced separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is a common problem for children between the ages of 8 months and 1 year. Separation anxiety is characterized by a child starting to cry or even becoming hysterical when their parent leaves them with someone else.

Separation anxiety can be induced by the departure of one specific person, or the child may get attached to a different person every week, always choosing somebody new from whom they fear separation.

Separation anxiety can be just as upsetting and frustrating to parents as it is to the child. Nothing can be more disconcerting and exhausting than having to be constantly within sight of your child, or risk him becoming distraught should you leave him for any period of time.

Often a child who suffers from separation anxiety may actually need to be constantly in physical contact with you. This can often make it difficult to do even the most mundane of tasks. So it can impact your ability to do the cooking, cleaning, and go about your daily business. If you have to work each day then leaving for work can be difficult. Even if you need some downtime for yourself after work, you may have a nightmare of tantrums.

It may be consoling to parents who are worried about separation anxiety in their children to understand that it is not a result of parenting that is too protective or too lax, or excessively tough or easy. It is a simply a normal part of growing up that all children have to go through. Indeed, some children feel separation anxiety far more than others and it may not even be an issue with some kids.

Set aside a defined period of time every day to work on your child’s separation anxiety, for example right after dinner, and let your child know that you are leaving, but will return shortly. Then follow through. Go outside and walk a few blocks or just go somewhere where you can’t be seen from the window. Wait five minutes before re-entering the house, and then make your presence known. Ignore any tantrum that probably began before you ever left. Take a seat and relax, waiting for your child to come to you. When she does, act as if nothing out of the ordinary happened and continue as normal. If you repeat this consistently, your child will become reassured that you will return, and will stop being so nervous when you leave, eventually reducing the separation anxiety.

Following the same routine over and over may help the child who is experiencing separation anxiety. As an example if your child is having a temper tantrum every time you must leave for work, try using the same approach every day and eventually your child will become used to the idea.