Separation anxiety: what’s normal and when to be concerned
Just about every parent has experienced separation anxiety. Perhaps your child cries for you when you drop him or her off at daycare, or they cling to you when a new babysitter arrives for the evening. These behaviors are not only quite common, they’re also perfectly normal, depending on your child’s age and developmental level. If your elementary-age child exhibits school refusal, it might be a sign of an underlying, clinically significant separation anxiety disorder.