The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution: Gentle Ways to Make Good-bye Easy from Six Months to Six Years Read Online Free PDF

years
    2%
    5%
    7%
    Cries when parent leaves the house
    6–11 months
    33%
    18%
    18%
    51%
    12 months–2 years
    11%
    27%
    38%
    2–3 years
    5%
    11%
    16%
    3–5 years
    2%
    6%
    8%
    Clings to parent
    6–11 months
    33%
    29%
    9%
    62%
    12 months–2 years
    8%
    20%
    28%
    2–3 years
    5%
    10%
    15%
    3–5 years
    3%
    7%
    10%
    Follows parent from room to room
    6–11 months
    28%
    19%
    9%
    47%
    12 months–2 years
    7%
    22%
    29%
    2–3 years
    5%
    9%
    14%
    3–5 years
    4%
    4%
    8%
    Fears strangers
    6–11 months
    13%
    21%
    56%
    34%
    12 months–2 years
    8%
    10%
    18%
    2–3 years
    6%
    9%
    15%
    3–5 years
    2%
    6%
    8%
    9
    *As indicated by test parents who completed the survey
    **Includes all age groups
    continued
    The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution © Better Beginnings, Inc.
    10
    Separation Anxiety Signs, Symptoms, and Behaviors* (continued)

    The No-Cry Sep
    Usually
    Sometimes Never
    Total
    Symptoms/Signs
    Age
    exhibits
    exhibits
    exhibits**
    exhibiting signs
    Acts shy around strangers
    6–11 months
    31%
    20%
    15%
    51%
    12 months–2 years
    7%
    19%
    26%
    2–3 years
    7%
    14%
    21%
    3–5 years
    6%
    12%
    18%
    ara
    Prefers mother to everyone else
    6–11 months
    52%
    21%
    13%
    73%
    tion Anxiety Solution
    12 months–2 years
    16%
    10%
    26%
    2–3 years
    11%
    8%
    19%
    3–5 years
    4%
    9%
    13%
    Refuses to fall asleep without a
    6–11 months
    53%
    19%
    24%
    72%
    parent present
    12 months–2 years
    18%
    31%
    49%
    2–3 years
    17%
    21%
    38%
    3–5 years
    9%
    16%
    25%
    Won’t leave parent’s side at play-
    6–11 months
    12%
    14%
    59%
    26%
    ground, public place, or playmate’s
    12 months–2 years
    9%
    19%
    28%
    home
    2–3 years
    5%
    11%
    16%
    3–5 years
    3%
    9%
    12%
    *As indicated by test parents who completed the survey
    **Includes all age groups
    The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution © Better Beginnings, Inc.
    All About Separation Anxiety in Early Childhood 11
    I asked the test parents to pick words to describe their emotions
    over their child’s separation anxiety. Following are the percentage of
    respondents picking a particular word:
    90% Frustration
    70% Sadness
    70% Sympathy
    60% Confusion
    60% Concern
    50% Worry
    40% Anger
    30% Embarrassment
    20% Irritation
    15% Acceptance
    Separation Anxiety Is Fluid
    Separation anxiety doesn’t have a specifi c beginning nor does it
    have an exact end. It doesn’t build in predictable, identifi able ways.
    It shows itself in peaks and valleys—good days and bad days, good
    weeks and bad weeks, and even good years followed by bad weeks.
    Separation anxiety has common themes and typical symptoms, but
    it shows up differently in every child.
    It can be bewildering to parents when their child shifts from con-
    fi dence to anxiety and back again many times during the growing-up
    years, but this unpredictable behavior is actually very normal. Gain-
    ing the maturity and skills to handle many different kinds of separa-
    tion with confi dence is a process, not a single event.
    Professional-Speak
    “A preschooler’s unwillingness to leave a parent or other
    beloved adult is a good sign that important attachments have
    developed. Many experts believe this capacity is a prerequi-
    site for a healthy personality and a satisfying adulthood.”
    —The National Parent Information Network

    12 The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution
    Is Something Wrong if a Child Doesn’t Have
    Separation Anxiety?
    Some children seem to learn early on that any adult can provide the
    safety and security they need. These kids are remarkably fl exible and
    don’t present any separation anxiety problems. They adapt seamlessly
    from one new experience to another and make friends of all ages eas-
    ily. The biggest issue with these fearless kids is teaching them enough
    “Stranger Danger” lessons to prevent them from wandering off with
    a friendly stranger at the park or shopping mall.
    Some children don’t have any outward demonstration of separa-
    tion anxiety—but they have the feelings nonetheless. While