Separation anxiety

by Karen
(Pawtucket,RI)

My son is 7 years old and is in second grade. He has anxiety on many issues of being alone but we have handled most of them as they came up. My issue now is him trying new things with friends or at theme parks. He seems to miss out on so much. But my biggest concern is him still being upset at me leaving him at school. Some days he cries for hours and others he settles down quickly. What can I do to make this easier for him. Our there things the teacher and or school can do for him. I need help.




Karen



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May 07, 2011
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by: Anonymous

My son who just turned seven is like this to a degree. He goes to school okay, but he constantly asks what is the schedule, what are we doing tomorrow? Do you have to work tomorrow? It's exhausting. He is funny about being left with babysitters.
Sep 02, 2009
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by: Anonymous

Karen,
my four year old has some anxieties like this. We approach this with social stories. do you know what they are? If not, find out. And add pictures to them, real or cartoon. (You can just google social stories until you find the connection, usually it is connected with autism in writings on the net.)

Before the event, read the social story a few times. Even the day or night before. Sometimes, if my son can have something like this, he finds it easier to process something over which he has no control, and the event seems to make more sense to him, and not pose a threat. You want your child to feel that he is not powerless, so, as they say, "knowledge is power." Can he carry a small comfort item in a pocket, that is not too much of a distraction? I know of one little girl who used to carry a photo of her family.

Good luck, and I hope this helps!

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