Separation anxiety at preschool is developmentally normal and deeply uncomfortable to watch. Handled consistently, it usually fades within weeks.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Create a short, identical goodbye ritual and do it every day: a hug, a phrase, a wave. Say when you'll be back in terms your child understands — “after snack and playground,” not “at three o'clock.” Then leave, calmly and without lingering.
Don't sneak out, and don't return after you've said goodbye. Both teach your child that goodbyes are unpredictable, which makes the next one harder. Your calm is contagious; your hesitation is too.
Most children settle within two to four weeks. Distress that continues much of the day for weeks, spreads to other separations, or comes with sleep problems and physical complaints is worth discussing with the teacher and your pediatrician.
If separation isn't easing, a Care Map call looks at what's driving it across all four domains and builds a plan.
$189
$150 / month
Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 or email info@caremapmethod.com