Why Do Children Have Separation Anxiety?
The child’s unwillingness to leave a parent or caregiver is a sign that attachments have developed between the caregiver and child (Brazelton, 1992). The child is beginning to understand that each object (including people) in the environment is different and permanent (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1993). This means that your child is learning that there is only one of you. In addition, the child begins to understand that when he cannot see you, you have gone somewhere else, and he shows these anxious behaviors because he wants you to remain close to him. Also, because young children cannot yet understand time, they do not know when or even if you will ever come back (American Academy of Pediatrics, 1993). As a result, a child may fuss and cry when you go into the next room, scream when you leave him with someone else, and may even refuse to go to sleep at night. Fortunately, as children get older, their memories will begin to provide comfort as they learn that you will come back. Th
