Separation anxiety is not uncommon, especially for young children . Giving into a child’s fears, such as letting them avoid school, often worsens separation anxiety because the avoidance breeds more distress, Milaniak said. Milaniak suggests a two-pronged approach for a child already dealing with separation anxiety: Validate their feelings, but stay firm. Many of the symptoms of separation anxiety revolve around delaying or preventing separation from a caregiver . When separation anxiety persists for several weeks or months, Lee said it may be time to check in with a pediatrician.