Babies, toddlers and young children always look to their parents for guidance, so they are naturally very good at picking up expressions and behaviors. If you worry about something, they will feel anxious too.
“You’re handing your child over to someone else’s control, so it’s normal to worry. But try not to show it. A big part of why children become anxious is because they feel like their parents are anxious,” Linda explains.
Try to be enthusiastic and positive about a planned trip, even if you are a little apprehensive about it; this will rub off on your child. Don’t overdo it though…
“Be careful not to get too hyper,” says Linda. “Although children are quite good at interpreting negative emotions versus positive emotions, they are better at picking up on the intensity of emotions.
“So, if you say: ‘WOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME!’that can be just as frightening as if the parent were really worried. It’s something fun: ‘Wow, isn’t this fun?’ ‘You’re going to do what mommy and daddy do.’”