Gently Supporting Successful Separations: Preparing to Return to Work and Easing Separation Anxiety for Little Ones

Easing Separation Anxiety for Your Little One. Gently Supporting Successful Separations from Parents. This is a guide for parents and educators who recognise that separations from the primary caregiver are a really big ask for little ones. This e-book is suitable for parents and educators of babies and young children from birth to school age.

This e-book will support you if:

• You wish to understand attachment and why little ones cannot be “too attached.”
• You would like a better understanding of how attachment develops and why little ones present with separation anxiety.
• You would like to understand your child’s temperament and how this relates to their separation anxiety.
• You want to gently start building in short separations from your little one who has a high need to keep you close.
• You are planning a return to paid employment and you want the tools to give your little one the best possible chance of a successful transition.

In this eBook I will cover:

• What is Attachment?
• How to nurture a secure attachment with your child.
  • Can my baby be “too attached?”
  • What does separation anxiety look like? Should I be worried?
  • Separating from 8-18 month olds and general strategies
  • Separating from 16- 36 month olds and general strategies.
  • Understanding temperament
  • Strategies for toddlers who find new situations overwhelming.

• Coping with Separation Anxiety at Home
  • Normalising and understanding parental preference
  • Using the PACE approach to manage parental preference (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy).

• Supporting Independence at Home
  • Nurturing independent play for infants and toddlers.
  • Preparing to leave your child in the care of another adult.

• Transitioning into daycare/nursery/preschool
• • How to nurture an attachment to a new and unfamiliar adult.
  • The first 3 days.
  • The first separation.
  • The goodbye.
  • Supporting connection while apart.
  • The reunion.
  • Filling up your child’s emotional cup.
  • Preparing older children for daycare/preschool.

Bonus

• Books I recommend for further reading for parents.
• Books I recommend parents read with their child.
• An infographic for parents to share with daycare settings/schools to explain the “successful separations” approach.