In teaching about separation anxiety, which statement should be included?

Separation anxiety is a normal developmental phase that typically occurs in younger children, particularly in infants and toddlers. It is characterized by distress when a child is separated from their primary caregiver. In this context, the chosen statement emphasizes that behaviors such as kicking a stranger may be a part of the child's response to anxiety stemming from separation. This behavior reflects their discomfort and fear when faced with unfamiliar situations or people, showing how separation anxiety can manifest through physical actions as a means of expressing their distress.

To understand why this statement is relevant, it's important to recognize that separation anxiety primarily affects younger children and typically decreases as they grow and develop coping strategies. Older children, such as school-aged ones, often experience different forms of anxiety related to different developmental challenges, rather than classic separation anxiety. In a hospital setting, the stages of detachment mentioned in other statements refer to the emotional distancing some children may show after prolonged separation, but these are not indicators of separation anxiety itself. Similarly, the assertion of prolonged issues being an outcome of what is mostly a temporary phase can be misleading, as healthy coping mechanisms usually develop with age and experience. Therefore, focusing on a child’s immediate behavioral expressions, like the example provided in the selected answer, becomes crucial for understanding separation anxiety and