My daughter won't let me leave the room!

Build up her confidence slowly by keeping to routines

Your questions answered by Jeni Hooper of Greatvine.com

My 18 month old daughter won’t let me leave the room when we go anywhere – How can I help her feel more confident?

Your daughter feels completely safe in new situations when you are there. Her distress when you are out of sight is a normal reaction. She feels unable to cope on her own and is also unsure where you are or when you are coming back. She also knows that becoming upset brings you back again and currently that is the only way she has to put things right.

Build confidence slowly

Most children gradually get used to familiar situations and people so that they start to explore a little on their own and may take their eyes off you briefly. Build up her confidence slowly by keeping to routines with familiar places and people. Encourage her to leave your side to explore but stay where she can see you. Gradually she will spend more time playing and exploring.

If you have to leave her in child care, talk to your child care provider about how to help her cope with you leaving. Alternatively please do feel free to contact me direct via Greatvine.com. They may suggest you leave her for a short time for a few visits while she gets to know her new environment. Once she is more familiar with the place and the people she will begin to feel safer even though you are not there.

Jeni Hooper

Jeni Hooper is a chartered psychologist and parent coach with a Master’s degree in educational psychology. Jeni specialises in family coaching, offering parents practical techniques to help them bond with their children, adjust to the different stages of childhood and overcome difficult behaviour. For individual advice you can trust, book a private phone call with Jeni at www.greatvine.com/jeni_hooper