My toddler clings to me! How can I help him to be more confident?
As a parent, it can be frustrating when your child clings to you wherever you. Acknowledge your child’s feelings when he’s is upset, and try to keep his routine as predictable as possible to help foster a sense of security. When you have to leave your son, help him get busy with an activity before you go. Make your goodbye short and sweet with a few reassuring words and a cheerful wave good-bye. Your child will likely be upset, but prolonging the goodbye will only make it more upsetting for both of you. While it may be tempting to sneak out while your child is preoccupied to avoid all the tears, this often makes children more clingy because they quickly learn that you can disappear at any time. Try leaving your child for small periods of time at first, and then slowly increasing the time you are away.