Four Transitional Objects You And Your Child Can Make Together To Help With Preschool Separation Anxiety
If your child is suffering from separation anxiety at preschool, a transitional object may help. A transitional object is something that helps your child transition from home to preschool and back again. Traditionally, transitional objects are teddy bears or blankets, but those items can be easily lost at preschool. Instead, consider working with your child to make a transitional object together.
Take a look at these ideas:
1. A Memento of You
Consider making a small memento of yourself to help soothe your child's separation anxiety. If your child loves to snuggle and you wear a certain perfume or cologne, let him make something infused with that smell. You can also sew a small pillow together, and spray that with the fragrance.
Alternatively, you can take an old shirt of yours and let your child cut a fabric scrap from it. Then, as part of your morning routine, you can let your child spray your fragrance on the scrap. Then, he or she can slip it in his or her pocket, and take it out and smell it as needed during the day.
2. A Mini Blanket
If your child has a favorite blanket he or she loves to sleep with but you don't want to risk losing it at preschool, you can make a mini version for him or her. If you can find a swatch of fabric that matches your child's special blanket, let your child cut out a corner of it, and then, hem the sides so that it doesn't fray.
If you cannot find matching fabric, simply allow your child to cut off a corner of his or her actual blanket. Then, when your child goes to preschool, slip it in his bag or pocket.
3. Family and Home Photo Album
In many cases, if your child is experiencing separation anxiety at preschool, he or she may miss several things at home. To help your child cope with those feelings, consider making a photo album together.
Using your smartphone or a small digital camera, let your child shoot photographs of his or her favorite things. That could include favorite stuffed animals, a bedroom, the swingset in the backyard, other family members, the family pets, or anyone or anything else that he loves in your home.
Then, print the pictures out, and let your child place them in a small photo album. Your child can carry the album in his or her backpack, and page through it as desired.
4. A Daily Routine Booklet
In many cases, separation anxiety at preschool isn't just about missing you or home during the day. In some cases, it's rooted in fear that you may not come back. However, as your child gets used to his or her daily routine, he or she will know with certainty that you will always come back.
To emphasize that pattern, make a daily routine booklet together. This booklet should run through the activities your child does everyday. For example, it can start with his or her morning routine of waking up, eating breakfast and getting ready for school. Then, it can show you dropping off your child at preschool, followed by playing and learning happily, and finally, the big finale -- the moment you pick your child up from school.
If your child likes to draw, let him or her create the pictures for the booklet. Alternatively, you can draw the pictures and let your child color them, or you may take photos and use those in the booklet.
For more tips on making transitional objects with your child or on separation anxiety at preschool, contact a local preschool, or visit websites like http://www.kidscountry.net.