The term separation often brings sadness or anxiety in us and the same goes for little ones. The children generally feel uncomfortable when their mother is out of sight even for a short period, while others appear to have ongoing anxiety due to separation during infancy, toddlerhood, and preschool.
The trick for surviving separation anxiety needs preparation, and not only does it make the child suffer but also the parents.
How it affects differently in accordance to specific age group:
1) Infants: Children develop separation anxiety at the age of 4 to 9 months. The separation anxiety grows after the child gains a sense of object permanence. At first, when infants realize that you’re gone; it will make them feel uncomfortable. This separation can be worst if your child is hungry, tired, or not feeling well.
2) Toddlers: At 15 or 18 months of age, we frequently observe toddlers step out of the fear of infancy and start facing different challenges. The anxiety of separation is harder in comparison to hunger, tiredness, or illness, which is very common in toddlers.
3) Preschoolers: At the age of 3 years, they can understand the feelings of separation anxiety. This feeling in children doesn’t make them prone to stress but they certainly look for a change. Try to be consistent, and don’t cancel any plan based on sudden interruption.