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Child Behavior  (Expert Forum)
 | 
5 yr old exhbiting seperation anxiety after holiday break
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development

5 yr old exhbiting seperation anxiety after holiday break

by slpagee, Jan 14, 2002 12:00AM
My five year old son has started crying and carrying on about going to school since he has started back from the two week holiday break. He cries the ENTIRE day at school. The teachers say he doesn't disrupt the clasroom and cries silently and even does all his school work. When asked what's wrong, he says "he misses mommy." Both the teachers, my husband and I have asked seperately if anything else is going on/bothering him at school. He says no and again replies he just misses mommy.
His crying starts as soon as I get him up and start fixing breakfast for him. It continues from that time on, through the standard morning routine until we get to school. As he begs me not to go to school and don't make him go, my heart breaks.
Aside from feeling like the worst parent in the world, what else can i do? This is entering week number two of this problem.

by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Jan 14, 2002 12:00AM
It can be very difficult, because you don't want to see your son in such distress. But you are absolutely doing the right thing. Things will settle down if you maintain your current course.
Member Comments (3)

by LMcK, Apr 04, 2002 12:00AM
Is it abnormal for a 2nd grader to start showing seperation anxiety problems very similar to the above.  My child does very well in school achedemically and has lots of friends, loves her teacher but is having a difficult time going to school.  It seems to happen every year in Feb. and continue into April.  I basically do the same just send her--she had gotten better after a week of sending her crying but we went on a two week vacation and it has started up again.

by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Apr 04, 2002 12:00AM
It's not the usual for a child her age, but also nothing to become alarmed about. Just persist in your efforts, be sure she attends, and her pattern indicates that it will be OK.
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