It is normal for young children to experience anxiety when separating from parents or caregivers. When you layer a pandemic on top of ordinary back-to-school stress, many children will be struggling more than usual. In everyday language, it’s common for people to talk about children (or even pets) experiencing separation anxiety. When children experience more intense fears and anxieties that interfere with going to school over a prolonged period of time, or that interfere with how they function at school and/or how they interact with others, this is what psychologists call separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety disorder is the most common anxiety disorder in children under 12 years of age. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article by Audrey-Ann Deneault of University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan of University of Calgary here. Even when children are experiencing typical levels of anxiety — whether they are starting kindergarten, transitioning to a new school — or returning to more familiar surroundings, how parents respond is important.
Anxiety and the Pandemic
After long periods of social isolation with family members, it may be hard for some children — and parents — to be separated from them once the school bell rings. Particularly after our pandemic year, some children and parents may still feel some anxiety about going into unfamiliar places. They may also have concerns about pandemic safety that makes going back to school stressful. In a normal year, approximately one in 10 children experience elevated anxiety levels. However, research shows that anxiety levels in children have doubled during the pandemic, with one in five experiencing significant anxiety. In the past year and a half, most children spent more time at home than usual, notably when schools were closed. Even when children were allowed to spend time with friends, there were often restrictions in place, such as being outdoors or keeping a mask on, and staying socially distant. For some children, these restrictions can increase stress associated with interactions outside of their family.
What Separation Anxiety Can Look Like
Separation anxiety can unfold in different ways. Children may refuse to go to school or participate in new activities in the absence of their parent. They may also refuse to go to bed without their parent or sleep away from home. Some children experiencing separation anxiety have physical symptoms such as stomach aches and nightmares, while others may experience headaches or a racing heartbeat. Others may have persistent thoughts that something bad is going to happen to themselves or to their parents. Some children may also be anxious when it comes to the pandemic specifically. Going back to school can entail some risks for unvaccinated children, and some may fear contracting COVID-19 or transmitting it to their friends and family. Also, children, much like adults, may feel a little “rusty” when it comes to interacting with people outside the family, particularly with strangers like a new teacher.
Strategies to Support Your Child
Whether you know your child has struggled significantly with anxiety before, or they seem worried or anxious about going back to school, we offer several strategies below to help you navigate these feelings with them. It is understandable that children may struggle with separating from their loved ones as they experience another unconventional back-to-school. Nonetheless, these strategies can help parents play an important role in easing their children’s anxiety and making the back-to-school more enjoyable for them. If you have questions about whether your child could benefit from additional support, you can consider reaching out for professional help, including talking to your family physician. Anxiety Canada provides a directory of professional services available across Canada. Audrey-Ann Deneault, Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Psychology, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan, Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair in Determinants of Child Development, Owerko Centre at the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary
