Please Don't Go!

5 Wrong Ways to Say Goodbye

• Sneaking out without saying goodbye betrays your child's trust and could make future separations worse.
• Lingering in the room to see whether your child is okay prevents him from becoming absorbed in other activities, which ultimately helps him get over his anxiety.
• Acting sad makes your child worry that you're leaving her in an unsafe place.
• Changing your routine makes separations harder. Kids count on predictability when it comes to goodbyes, so stick to your rituals.
• Getting angry when your child has trouble saying goodbye will just cause him to cry harder, so don't let your frustration show.

Copyright © 2007. Used with permission from the September 2007 issue of Parents magazine.