No one wants to leave his or her child when it creates anxiety. There are gentle ways to ease the transition and make the separation easier. Here are some tips. 1. Preparation is essential. nike air pegasus Be up front with your child in a way that is appropriate for his age, and be frank about where you will be going (“Out with Daddy for dinner”) and how long you’ll be gone. Young children won’t understand time as hours and minutes, but use terms they will understand. (“We’ll be gone for the same amount of time as it takes to eat dinner and clean up at home.”) 2. Visualization can help young children. Make a simple calendar with pictures cut out from magazines to show people and places. nike tn You can cut out pictures of yourself from photos. Use pictures of restaurants, movie theatres, your workplace, or wherever you will be. Mount the pictures to thin cardboard and cut them out. You can use poster putty to stick the pictures onto the calendar. nike air huarache Having a picture of their caretaker along with a picture of the child is helpful, too. Children can then see what day you will be gone and be prepared for it each time they look at the calendar. 3. More preparation in the form of visiting the caretaker is important. air max thea No child wants to be left with a stranger! Take the time to get to know the caretaker or, if you will be leaving your child at someone’s house, a daycare center, or school, visit the site beforehand. 4. Keep your attitude calm and cheerful. Children become more anxious when their parents are anxious. Fjallraven Kanken Big Sale Try to be matter-of-fact and gentle, and calm your child’s fears. 5. Fjallraven Kanken Backpacks Sale UK Provide some coping tools, such as naming the feelings your child may be feeling. Small children often feel overwhelmed by the hugeness of their emotions, and giving them words to express and identify those feelings can go a long way toward helping them calm down. (“You are feeling fear and anxiety right now. Those are normal feelings when Mommy goes away!”) Then explain that you will be back. 6. Role play the situation ahead of time. Using dolls, stuffed animals, or other toys, create a scenario where your child leaves the toys and then returns. Or take the toy and have it “leave” to another room for awhile, then return. This will help your child, who may not understand that people and objects that are out of sight still exist, understand that beloved people and toys do return. 7. nike air max thea Reserve special treats such as a video, cookies, or other unusual indulgence for the time with the caregiver. This will help give your child a positive association with the caregiver. (“Susie is going to babysit tonight.