1. Separation Anxiety in early childhood
Rebecca M. Ortez
Fresno Pacific University
Guidance of Social & Emotional Development

2. Over View Personal Note Assessment on Separation Anxiety
What is Separation Anxiety?
Symptoms of Separation Anxiety
Separation Anxiety VS Separation Anxiety Disorder
Causes Separation Anxiety
Risk Factors
How Teachers can Help
Words for Parents
References

3. Personal Note
There is a personal reason for this assessment. Each child has their own story and reasons for their actions.
“Leah’s” Story

4. Assessment Questions
When dropping off your child select any types of emotions you as a parent are feeling?
Do you and your child have a routine before school?
Have you moved recently?
Has their been a death of a loved one or pet?
Has one of the parents lost their job?
Is anyone new living in the home?
Has a loved one experienced a serious illness that required hospitalization?
Does your child use excuses of physical illness like stomachaches or headache, fever whenever they have to go out or to school?
Does your child cling to you in social situations?
Does your child cry anytime you leave them, even if it is with a loved one?

5. Results:
1. When dropping off your child select any types of emotions you as a parent are feeling? 0% said sad 20% said stressed 30% said anxiety 50% said happy/excited 2. Do you and your child have a routine before school? 70% said yes 30% said no 3. Have you moved recently? 10% said yes 90% said no 4. Has there been a death of a loved one or pets? 30% said yes to pets 70% said no 5. Has one of the parents lost their job? 20% said yes 80% said no

6. Results Continued
6. Is anyone new living in the home 20% said yes 80% said no 7. Has a loved one experienced a serious illness that required hospitalization? 10% said yes 90% said no 8. Does your child use excuses of physical illness like stomachaches or headache, fever whenever they have to go out or to school? 40% said yes 60% said no 9. Does your child cling to you in social situations? 70% said yes 30% said no 10. Does your child cry anytime you leave them, even if it is with a loved one?

8. Overall

9. What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety is a condition in which a child becomes scared, fearful, nervous or worried when away from a loved one. To whom the child is attached.  (Choate, 2006)
Some children also develop physical symptoms.

10. Symptoms of Separation Anxiety
An unrealistic worry that something bad will happen to the parent or caregiver if the child leaves. Or a worry that something bad will happen to child if parent or caregiver leaves
Refusal to go to school.
Refusal to go to sleep without the caregiver/parent being nearby
Fear of being alone
Nightmares about being separated
Bed wetting
Complaints of physical symptoms
Repeated temper tantrums or pleading

11. Separation Anxiety VS Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is NOT a normal stage of development.
The main differences between healthy separation anxiety and separation anxiety disorder are the intensity of your child’s fears.

12. Causes of Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety disorder happens because a child feels unsafe in some way.
Change in environment
Stress
Over-protective parent
Family members with anxiety or other mental disorders
Lost of loved one
Trauma

13. Risk Factors for Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
A family history of anxiety/depression
Shy, timid personalities
Low socioeconomic status
A lack of proper parental communication
Problems dealing with children their own age

14. How Teachers can Help Make sure the child is prepared ahead of time
Ask parents for background information
Ask parents to provide a comfort item. 
Provide distraction.
Be there for the child/ Extra TLC
Engage the child in an art or writing project.

15. How Parents can Help Practice the separation
Develop a “goodbye” ritual.
Keep familiar surroundings
Have a consistent primary caregiver.
Leave without fanfare.
No scary television.
Setting Limits and not giving in
Therapy if needed
watch?v=r_5eiYIo1XM

16. References
Choate, M. L., Pincus, D. B., Eyberg, S. M., & Barlow, D. H. (2005). Parent-child interaction therapy for treatment of separation anxiety disorder in young children: A pilot study.Cognitive and Behavioral Practice,12(1), doi: /s (05) Pendley, J. S. (Ed.). (2016, October). Separation Anxiety. Retrieved March 29, 2017, from Separation Anxiety in Children. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2017, from Shannon Johnson Medically Reviewed by. (n.d.). Separation Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved March 26, 2017, from Ehrenreich, J. T., Santucci, L. C., & Weiner, C. L. (2008, January 01). SEPARATION ANXIETY DISORDER IN YOUTH: PHENOMENOLOGY, ASSESSMENT, AND TREATMENT. Retrieved March 29, 2017, from

17. Questions
Was the presentation organized and presented in a professional manner?
What was your favorite part of the presentation?
What was your least favorite?
Was there anything you learned that was new information? If so what?
Would there be anything you would change?