Minimizing Separation Anxiety in Toddlers and Preschoolers

On-Demand Class · Emotions & Behavior

Set yourself up to support your little one as they start new childcare or preschool. What is separation anxiety? Why does it occur? How can you help prepare your child to be away from you, so that they can transition as snoothly as possible? This class covers all of those questions and more.

Class Description

Are you a parent of young children in early childhood and planning to get back to work, study, or have some time to yourself to do things? Do you have children, toddlers, or preschoolers who would be going to preschool for the first time or preschool-age children who would be attending the school? These scenarios imply that there would be separation from your lovely little one for some hours in the day. A scary thought for some parents! All transition is about change from the known to the unknown and naturally causes fear and anxiety for everyone, especially the little children. Separation anxiety is a natural developmental milestone in children because they have formed a secure attachment with the primary caregiver and, at this time, are yet to understand that a parent's absence is not permanent. The class overview includes: Understanding why separation anxiety in children happens The four stages of attachment development Eleven ways to prepare toddlers before they start preschool Ongoing practical ways parents can support the child daily during drop-off and pick-up hours as they settle in Ways parents can work collaboratively with the teachers as a team child. That regression in already achieved milestones may happen and how to deal with it collaboratively with preschool teachers. Reasons a child going from preschool to school may develop separation anxiety, overview of the differences between Preschool and School, and ways parents can collaborate with the school for a smoother transition. By preparing your child proactively, not only will your child feel calmer and safer at the beginning, but you will also have peace of mind that you made the right decision for your child and yourself. This class will empower you to support and empower your child to transition to preschool or school with less anxiety. This class is essential for: All parents who have children between zero and six years All parents planning to send their toddler to preschool or daycare All parents whose preschoolers would be transitioning to a school environment Caregivers and early childhood educators working with toddlers and preschoolers

Class Materials

Pen Paper

Sessions Overview

  1. Introduction-Welcome: This welcoming session introduces the class, the instructor, and what you will learn at the end of the course to ensure minimal separation anxiety as your child transitions to group care feeling more secure.
  2. Learning Objectives: This session details eight easy-to-implement lessons parents will learn at the end of the class to enable them to support their children to transition to group care and learning with minimal separation anxiety.
  3. Understanding Separation Anxiety in Children: Helping children overcome the fear of separation-stranger anxiety requires understanding why separation anxiety happens in children. The section also provides insight into the attachment theory of development and the stages of attachment development children go through to bond.
  4. At What Age Does Separation Anxiety Start and Ends?: A look into the age separation anxiety starts as children develop 'Object Permanence' - a perception that people and things do not exist when out of sight as a sense of time is lacking. It emphasizes that separation anxiety decreases around age two and gradually goes away around age three.
  5. Ways to Prepare Children Before Starting Preschool: This session details many practical ways parents can prepare toddlers ahead of starting in a preschool to minimize separation anxiety.
  6. Providing Ongoing Support at Drop-off and Pick-up Times: Transition is a process; children generally do not settle in one day. Therefore, there is a need for ongoing support from parents daily for the well-being of the little ones. This session details tips for continuing support during morning drop-off and end-of-the-day pick-up of children.
  7. HelpTeachers to Help Your Child and Possibility of Regression: This session highlights the need for a partnership with teachers to enable them to support your child better through the settling process. A child who overcomes separation anxiety may regress and begin to show separation anxiety all over. Regression is not an abnormal behavioral development.
  8. Transitioning to School from Preschool: Moving to a school environment is another significant change in the life of preschoolers. All transition is about change and adjusting to new situations. An overview of some differences between preschool and school is made. This will help parents and teachers prepare their children better.
  9. Supporting Preschoolers Transitioning to School: Going to the 'big school' can be scary for preschoolers. This session looks at ways to support preschoolers as they transition to school while highlighting the nature of the tripartite cooperation required by parents, schoolteachers, and preschool teachers for a smoother transition.
  10. Wrapping Up - Thank You: This concluding section sums up the heart of the class and shares insight into signs that could indicate separation anxiety disorder that parents may need to discuss with medical experts.

Your Instructor

Ngozi Uche

Hello Parents, My name is Ngozi Elizabeth Uche. I am a life-long teacher, educational psychologist, parenting coach, and early childhood education management consultant. I am a mother of two boys and a grandmother. My family and I reside in Toronto, Canada. I have a degree in General Education with a minor in Social Studies. I also have a Bachelor of Education in Educational Psychology, Guidance & Counseling, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). I have spent over thirty years working with children of all ages, teachers, and parents. After twenty years of working with children and teachers, I became a focused early childhood development specialist working with parents and teachers on behavior management techniques, caring for and raising positive, self-confident, empathic independent children who cooperate without complaining. I have lived, worked, and taught in four continents. The interactions enlarged my personal and professional experiences and deepened my understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures and culturally imbibed forms of raising children. I managed the most prominent International Childcare organization in the Netherlands that provides daycare, preschool, afterschool, and parenting services from January 2011 to August 2020 as the Educational Program/Managing Director. While managing the day-day strategic operations of the childcare organization, with direct oversight of five early childhood program managers, two after-school care area managers, and five business support departmental managers, I also carried out the following responsibilities: Developed and delivered practical parenting workshops quarterly on intentional behavioral guidance techniques and other topics related to caring for and raising positive children. Carried out one-on-one parenting coaching and counseling sessions. Developed and delivered professional workshops for early childhood teachers on child-centered reflective practices and learning. Trained and coached early childhood teachers and after-school care teachers on setting up childcare centers and techniques for planning and implementing an age-appropriate program of activities. Researched and developed the bilingual curriculum framework for the early years' group and trained the teachers on the concept and approaches. It became the most sought-after program in all its early childhood centers. I am the founder and Principal Program Director of Linz Education & Training Services. My responsibilities currently include and are not limited to: Providing early childhood and childcare set-up consultancy and management. ​​Parenting coaching and child behavioral guidance & counseling sessions. Developing and delivering professional training for early childhood teachers. Developing a child-vision-oriented early childhood curriculum. One-on-one career coaching & counseling sessions. Personal skills development workshops for work & life successes. I am passionate about the quality of care provided for children in their early stages of development by parents and teachers. I am equally passionate about supporting parents and early childhood teachers with practical child-centered developmental tools to guide and empower the little ones positively. Another area I am passionate about is supporting parents and teachers to understand who Third Culture Kids(TCKs) are, what makes them unique, their characteristics, unique challenges, and how to support them with issues that come with living and growing up in multiple countries. The numerous transitions influence their persons and perspective compared to children who grew up in a mono-cultural setting. I am grateful for the opportunity to train and coach hundreds of parents, early childhood teachers, and afterschool care teachers, on various child developmental centered topics, to reflectively work to raise positive, self-confident, independent children to succeed and thrive in life. I am also the author of the book "The Reflective Teacher: Holistic Pedagogic Approaches for Early Childhood Educators." The book is a practical resource that includes everything early childhood teachers in preschool and daycare settings need to inform their teaching and caring of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. It is also a valuable resource for parents passionate about guiding their children to learn and develop as happy individuals who thrive in group settings. The book is rooted in a deep understanding of child development and attachment theories which is the foundation for understanding the characteristics of early childhood development and the link between developmental attributes and behavior. Approaches and relationships highlighted in the book to support the child’s developmental journey include: Leveraging play as a means of learning and development. Encouraging the social-emotional competencies of children through intentional social-emotional guidance. Dealing with challenging behaviors of children from a foundational standpoint. Means to individualizing care and learning according to the unique needs of every child. Building trusting relationships with parents, especially in challenging situations. Thank you very much for taking my class, a testament that you are deeply committed to doing your best to empower your lovely child to become a positive, self-confident, independent person.

Degrees and Certifications

General Education Degree (Minor in Social Studies) Bachelor of Education (Educational Psychology, Guidance & Counseling) Master of Business Administration (MBA)

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