Dr LeCrone
05-21-2006, 10:14 PM
The beginning of school should be an exciting time for children. While most children look forward to the event, a significant number suffer from a problem frequently seen by mental health professionals, pediatricians and educators. It is called separation anxiety.
Many of us can remember having butterflies in our stomachs on the first day of school. That is normal. For some children, though, the anxiety becomes so great they resist attending school and even may refuse to do so.
This anxiety may center on leaving the mother to whom they have become very attached and with whom they have spent almost all of their time. Separation anxiety may cause the child to complain of headaches, stomach problems, disturbed sleep or even a lack of appetite. Without proper care and preparation, the difficulty can become severe and can lead to fairly serious psychological problems.
Parents often are perplexed and may take the wrong approach to handling this difficulty. Sometimes a vicious cycle develops in which the longer the child is out of school, the more severe the problem becomes. In addition, separation anxiety also may indicate a problem the parent has about being separated from the child, particularly if it is their first or last child to enter school.
Sometimes the root of the problem is a trauma. Maybe the parent has been ill for a long time or away from the family in the hospital. Other traumas that may be linked to separation anxiety are divorce or a move to another community. Sometimes parents have encouraged overdependence in the parent-child relationship. Parents may be unaware that this problem exists, particularly in first-born children.
Here are other situations that can cause separation anxiety:
The child has learning disabilities and has developed a feeling of inadequacy.
A bully at school makes the child fearful.
A child may be self-conscious about such things as wearing glasses for the first time or wearing braces on his teeth.
What can a parent do to remedy or ease separation anxiety?
Talk to the child about his feelings and fears, especially during the early days of school.
Get feedback from the school quickly if a problem arises.
Help the child develop a positive attitude about the purpose of school.
Find a friend who is going to attend the same classes and introduce your child to him or her.
Reiterate positive attitudes from older siblings who already have attended school.
Send children to school properly dressed, well-rested and feeling well physically, and with the proper tools for learning.
If a problem develops, parents should consider professional evaluation or perhaps counseling by individuals experienced in diagnosing and treating this problem.
Often, simple steps and changes can remedy a situation quickly. Helping a child overcome insecurity is essential to good mental health and self-esteem.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987
Many of us can remember having butterflies in our stomachs on the first day of school. That is normal. For some children, though, the anxiety becomes so great they resist attending school and even may refuse to do so.
This anxiety may center on leaving the mother to whom they have become very attached and with whom they have spent almost all of their time. Separation anxiety may cause the child to complain of headaches, stomach problems, disturbed sleep or even a lack of appetite. Without proper care and preparation, the difficulty can become severe and can lead to fairly serious psychological problems.
Parents often are perplexed and may take the wrong approach to handling this difficulty. Sometimes a vicious cycle develops in which the longer the child is out of school, the more severe the problem becomes. In addition, separation anxiety also may indicate a problem the parent has about being separated from the child, particularly if it is their first or last child to enter school.
Sometimes the root of the problem is a trauma. Maybe the parent has been ill for a long time or away from the family in the hospital. Other traumas that may be linked to separation anxiety are divorce or a move to another community. Sometimes parents have encouraged overdependence in the parent-child relationship. Parents may be unaware that this problem exists, particularly in first-born children.
Here are other situations that can cause separation anxiety:
The child has learning disabilities and has developed a feeling of inadequacy.
A bully at school makes the child fearful.
A child may be self-conscious about such things as wearing glasses for the first time or wearing braces on his teeth.
What can a parent do to remedy or ease separation anxiety?
Talk to the child about his feelings and fears, especially during the early days of school.
Get feedback from the school quickly if a problem arises.
Help the child develop a positive attitude about the purpose of school.
Find a friend who is going to attend the same classes and introduce your child to him or her.
Reiterate positive attitudes from older siblings who already have attended school.
Send children to school properly dressed, well-rested and feeling well physically, and with the proper tools for learning.
If a problem develops, parents should consider professional evaluation or perhaps counseling by individuals experienced in diagnosing and treating this problem.
Often, simple steps and changes can remedy a situation quickly. Helping a child overcome insecurity is essential to good mental health and self-esteem.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987