Coping strategies for separation anxiety involve ways to help people handle feeling upset when they're away from someone they're close to or a place they know well. These methods make them feel less worried and more safe. But for kids, it can be tough to use these skills since they may not fully understand why separation happens or how to express their feelings, which makes it hard to deal with the distress.
The Separation Anxiety Coping Skills handout is designed to assist kids in dealing with separation anxiety. It is divided into three parts: the first part explains what separation anxiety means, the second part suggests ways to help kids cope with it, and the last part offers guidance for caring adults on when to seek professional help.
By using this handout, kids can learn to better handle being separated, control their emotions, and build stronger self-esteem and resilience, which helps them deal with challenges as they grow. After completing it, parents and teachers can support kids by gradually exposing them to short separations, starting with brief periods and increasing them over time until they can fully adjust.
To help ease separation anxiety, parents and teachers can also make a special comfort object with kids using clay or other moldable materials. For example, they can encourage them to shape the object into something meaningful, which symbolizes their connection with the person they miss. Then they can carry it in their pockets or bags so they can easily access it.
*This item is an instant digital download. A link to download your files will be emailed to you once payment is confirmed.
Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of anxiety worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Bögels, S. M., Snieder, N., & Kindt, M. (2003). Specificity of dysfunctional thinking in children with symptoms of social anxiety, separation anxiety and generalised anxiety. Behaviour Change, 20(3), 160-169. https://doi.org/10.1375/bech.20.3.160.24836
- Nji T, M. (2020). Factors influencing coping strategies for drought-affected households in northern Cameroon. Journal of Ecology & Natural Resources, 4(7). https://doi.org/10.23880/jenr-16000221
- Zhang, L., & Dong, M. (2018). Research on causes and coping strategies of separation anxiety of infants in preschool. Proceedings of the 2018 3rd International Conference on Politics, Economics and Law (ICPEL 2018). https://doi.org/10.2991/icpel-18.2018.111
