How to Combat Separation Anxiety

10 Dec How to Combat Separation Anxiety

Tips from our Greenwich Nursery and Forest Hill Nursery on how to combat separation anxiety.

As your little one starts a new adventure into nursery, we can sometimes notice that separation anxiety kicks in. The goodbyes can become difficult, and the anxiety can even begin mounting on the morning journey. Separation anxiety is completely normal, and our teachers see it regularly as we welcome new families to our nursery settings. Some of our parents can become quite distressed and others slightly embarrassed by the tears and tantrums upon drop off, however there are small steps that we can take to ease the pressure and turn drop offs into a pleasurable experience.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is children’s common and normal fear of being away from their parents or carers. The behaviour you might see when children are separated from parents is sometimes called separation protest. Separation anxiety can start at around 8 months and reach its peak in babies aged 14-18 months. It usually goes away gradually throughout early childhood.

These anxieties are a normal part of development and are nothing to be concerned about. Children are starting to move around more at this stage, so these anxieties make sense from a survival point of view. That is, if children could crawl or walk away from their carers but weren’t afraid of separation or strangers, they’d get lost more easily.

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How can I combat separation anxiety?

1. Preparation is key. Both our Greenwich nursery and Forest Hill nursery offer and encourage visits and trial days before your little one starts with us. The slow introduction into the new setting will help your little one become accustomed to our teachers, nurseries, and time away from parents and caregivers. During our settling in sessions your children will experience learning through play in a home from home environment making the transition to full time a little less daunting.

2. Make the lead up to nursery something to be excited about. Children love Christmas not only for the day itself but the build-up; the excitement of the preparation and the countdown until Santa arrives. Create a fun game or a countdown chart to reinforce that nursery is a fun and happy event for children to enjoy. Speak about it with friends and family members making the new start something that all familiar faces are excited for.

3. Keep to times and dates – a crucial element in a child’s development is structure and routine. Your little one will begin to recognise morning drop offs, afternoon pick-ups as well as games and activities on the way to nursery. It may take a while at first but after a short time the routine will become normal, and anxiety will become a thing of the past.

4. Keep up to date with nursery life. Our Head Teachers of both our nursery in Greenwich and nursery in Forest Hill are always on hand to let you know all the fun things little ones get up to during the day. Understanding the activities, teachers, and friends your little ones make will give you fun talking points on the journey to nursery creating excitement about the day ahead.

It’s important for our parents to understand that separation anxiety is completely normal and isn’t permanent. Speak with the Head Teachers at Little Cubs Academy Forest Hill as well as our Greenwich nursery if you are concerned about the upcoming transition into nursery.