clingy 5 1/2 yr old...............

[pinkorchid]

my 5 1/2 yr old girl has turned into a clingy,upset and insecure child , she panicks if she cant see me, thinks i am going to leave her when she goes to sleep....etc. her dad works away a lot and so im sure it is a major factor, but as i am so much on my own i am finding it so suffocating, therefore probobly not making the situation any better...i need advice!! she is happy at school and she has a younger brother..thanks

[jollydo]

Hello. I sympathise with you as having a child that clingy is exhausting isn't it. My ds1 (now 4) has been through a couple of phases like that in the last year, and both times I've just found that the best thing to do was to give him the reassurance he needed - letting him follow me everywhere, including coming into the toilet with me and getting in my side of the car so he knew I was following immediately(!) It was VERY tiring but gradually decreased both times until he was back to normal.
Hope things settle for your dd soon, how long has she been like that? I think it must be so frightening for them when they feel like that. Sorry I haven't got any advice for your sanity - except try to remember that it will pass.

[pinkorchid]

hi, thanks for your message.
i know that reassurance is probably the best thing to do and i need patience with her, she has always been quite clingy but its almost as if she is getting older and more aware of the world, the more afraid she is of certain situations..especially ones that dont involve me!!(clubs,going to friends houses etc)
I think i may expect too much from her sometimes as her bro is 2 and v. demanding, but her insecurities are rubbing off on him!!