Ep 42: Navigating Separation Anxiety: Insights and Encouragement with Lauren Osborne

Our guest today is Lauren Osborne. Lauren has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University as well as a Master’s of Education from the University of Texas at Arlington. She was a teacher for eight years, both in the public and private sector, and has been a Christian Independent Consultant/Speaker for over fifteen years. She deeply desires to encourage and refresh women to live in the freedom that comes with believing and obeying God fully. 

 Today, Lauren and I will be talking about separation anxiety in young children. Lauren will walk us through how separation anxiety can manifest in a multitude of ways, such as crying or withdrawing, and it stems from the fear of being separated from their primary caregiver. She will emphasize the importance of understanding what is happening in the child's brain and body during this time. Creating a safe and nurturing environment is imperative to help children calm down and soothe their separation anxiety. Together, we will discuss the role of parents and teachers in supporting children through this process, including providing practical tools like social stories and involving parents in the classroom strategies. We will also discuss the significance of consistent attachment figures and the importance of pointing children toward God as their ultimate attachment figure. Lauren will finish our time by sharing her perspective on reimagining childhood, highlighting the benefits of spending time outdoors for children's mental health and overall well-being.

 Young children are attached to the person who meets their survival needs and they are connected to the people who bring fun and joy. We want both for the children in our care.  These young children coming into your classroom for the first time are terrified that their mommy might never come back or that someone or something will get them in your classroom. They’re not just being brats! Give them some time, some consistency in routine, and a little bit of novelty every day and you’ll be enjoying so much joy and learning and discovery in no time.  You’re building patterns of resilience in each child who struggles through the hard and into the wonderful! Don’t forget it. We are praying for stamina during these few weeks of school. Keep taking steps forward. The Lord will sustain you and you’ll be laughing and playing in no time!  

 

Additional Resources:

Get more helpful resources from Lauren at https://youaremytreasure.com/

Find her on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/deuteronomy14.2/

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