Early childhood separations

Every child in this long-term study of child rearing showed significant reactions to ordinary separations by about 1 year of age. The similar pattern of response in this group of children suggests a biologically determined cause. The clinging reaction appeared when the child became mobile and able to move away from his mother, regardless of the frequency or duration of his separations. The majority of the mothers did not understand this natural phenomenon and regarded the clinging and crying of the 1-year-old as evidence of spoiled or regressed behavior. The pediatrician can be helpful to a mother by anticipating and explaining separation responses, by indicating their universality, and by giving specific recommendations for gradual changes to modify these reactions.