Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 July 2005 — Page 22

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PARENTING TIPS FROM THE DESK OF JADA Separation anxiety in toddlers From KidsHealth.org You’ve always dropped off your 1-year-old child at day care without a problem - until today. She’s anxious and distressed, she’s clinging to you for dear life, and she’s making it clear she doesn’t want you to leave. She resists the teachers’ attempts to calm her and seems to want nothing to do with the other kids. All she wants is you, and she screams and cries every time you try to walk out the door. Finally, you make one last attempt to comfort her and head to the car, feeling guilty, upset, and contused. And the same scenario plays out every day for the entire week. Sound familiar? If so, then your toddler is experiencing separation anxiety, a normal phase of childhood development. But even though it’s perfectly normal, it can be extremely unsettling for parents. Understanding what your child is going through and having a few coping strategies in mind can go a long way toward helping both of you get through it. Separation anxiety is just one of the many different stages of behavioral growth your child will go through, and it affects most babies and toddlers at some point in their young lives. During this stage, a child does not want to be separated from her parent and she experiences intense distress whenever her mom or dad tries to leave her with someone else. Separation anxiety usually begins between the ages of 8 months and 1 year and peaks between the ages of 1 and 2. However, the timing can vary widely from child to child. There are certain life stresses that can trigger feelings of separation anxiety: a new child care situation or caregiver, anew sibling, moving to a new place, or tension at home. Whenyour baby was first born, you likely noticed that she adapted pretty well to other caregivers. This is typical for most infants. As long as their needs are being met, babies younger than 8 months typically adjust well to other people. Around 8 months to 1 year - sometimes sooner, sometimes later - this starts to change. Your baby may seem anxious around unfamiliar people and situations, and she may not want to let you out of her sight. This behavior is known as stranger anxiety. Actually this is a good sign, because your baby is starting to tell the difference between familiar and unfamiliar people. Between 1 year and 2 years, your child is growing into a more independent toddler - yet she is even more uncertain about being separated from you. This is when separation anxiety typically develops, and your child may become agitated and upset whenever you try to leave her.

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Women modeled various clothes and hairstyles during the Apple Bottoms and Vokal Fashion Show in the 500 Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center. There was a competition between local fashion designers during the fashion show. Multi-platinum selling rapper Nelly is a co-owner of Vokal, a hip-hop clothing line, and Apple Bottoms, designed specifically for women. The event was free with admission into Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration. (Photos/C. Guynn)

Holla Back Teen Forum

Recorder at Summer Celebration

Kain speaks to the audience about success and how he achieved wealth. (Photos/E. Wheeler)

The Holla Back Teen Forum featured a host of male actors speaking on a panel to Indy youth about "When I am 35...I want to be healthy, wealthy and wise." (Left to right) Ken L. of the show "The Parkers," Antwon Tanner of the movie “Coach Carter," Khalil Kain of "Girlfriends."

All smiles at Expo Alpha Garrett (right), communications director for Indiana Black Expo, is pictured with Kristian Little (right) of Borshoff Johnson Matthews, a public relations and marketing communications firm. (Photo/J. Hurst)

Shirl Williams (front) and Darnell Jemison diligently working at the Recorder booth inside the exhibit hall of the Indiana Convention Center.

Kay Toliver, business office assistant for the Recorder, signs up Carl Hines for a subscription.

Carotene Mays, publisher and general manager of The Indianapolis Recorder, hands Rev. Douglas Tate Sr. and his wife Sylvia a newspaper. (Photos/E. Wheeler)

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