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Parenting Skills: Separation Anxiety Tips and Tricks

March 24, 2009 by GreatDad Writers Leave a Comment

Here are some tried and true tricks for easing separation anxiety on the first day of school, or for any upcoming separation.

  1. Be positive. Your child will key off your emotions about the event.
  2. Give your child a preview. Most schools have orientation or visiting day. Make sure the first day is not a completely new experience.
  3. Schedule some playdates before the start of school. Seeing familiar faces on the first day will go a long way to averting anxiety.
  4. Pack family photos and a small stuffed animal so your child has a little bit of home to take with him.
  5. On the first day, don’t hang around longer than needed. Reassure him that you love him and that you’ll be back to pick him up, avoid the drama, and move quickly out the door, no matter how hard this is.
  6. When you pick him up, don’t overdo your joy in the reunion because this will just remind him of the pain of separation.

Be reassured that separation is a necessary part of growing up and that you’re actually teaching your child a valuable life lesson, no matter how painful for you both at the moment.

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Great Dad Talks
Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

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Check out Dr. Marcus’ website at parentrx.org

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– GreatDad.com/coaching 

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– Gratitude course: bit.ly/3NMLDNC  

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