Separation Anxiety Disorder & school drop offs

Autumn is here and whether we like it or not, some of our flock are going to school. For some children, this might be the beginning of a new chapter, for others the continuation of their educational journey.
For a lot of our children, the excitement of a new year can be accompanied by separation anxiety. 

What is separation anxiety and when does it become a disorder? 

According to our friends over that www.anxietyuk.org :

“Separation anxiety is a term used to explain a feeling of anxiety or stress when you are away from your parents/family/guardians, for example, when you are at school. You may find that you worry a lot when your parents or guardians are not with you or when you are away from your home. This will affect how you act towards other people when you are in certain places such as school.You may only feel comfortable and stop worrying when you are at home or with your parents/guardians. You may also feel afraid of going to sleep alone and when you do get to sleep, you may have nightmares about being apart from your parents/guardian. You could sometimes have a tummy ache or headaches when you are away from your parents and you may also create stories, like saying that you don’t feel well to avoid being away from your parents or your home”

Here are a few signs that can parents look out for to determine if their child struggles with separation anxiety according to anxiety.uk 

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety Disorder

Symptoms of separation anxiety occur when a child is separated from parents or caregivers. Fear of separation can also cause anxiety-related behaviours which can progress into adulthood. Some of the most common behaviours include:

Clinging to parents
Extreme and severe crying
Refusal to do things that require separation
Physical Illness, such as headaches or Vomiting
Violent, emotional temper tantrums
Poor school performance
Refusing to sleep alone
Nightmares

So there you have it… If your child exhibits a combination of all or some of the above, welcome to the club of the anxious child and the worrying parent. 

We know… we have been there, done that, got the t-shirt and lived to tell the tale. 

We know all too well the feeling of dropping off your child to school in the midst of tears and despair and it is for these moments that we have created our “with you” Toycessories™. A range of products that help families alleviate separation anxiety and its symptoms. 

The basis of the idea is that the more connected children feel with their parents and carers the more confident they become. 

Our Toycessories® and the accompanying ritual function as a constant reminder of the bond the parent and the child share, providing comfort and ease of emotional distress. 

We hope that our Toycessories® help you as much as the original necklace helped Dorothea and Cosmo and every person that has used them since we launched. 

*If you would like more information on separation anxiety we suggest you check out anxiety UK

Please know that we are always “With you” with ideas and support. 

With love
Dorothea & Valeria