5 Children’s Books to Help with Separation Anxiety 

In over 30 years working as a nanny I have known many children that suffer from separation anxiety. It’s a common form of anxiety and worry can happen with children of all ages. 

But, separation anxiety disorder is when a child becomes excessively anxious when separated from parents. Separation anxiety differs from normal clinginess. Children with the disorder have trouble doing activities due to the present fear of separation. They may have nightmares or regular physical complaints. They may be reluctant to go to school, camps, activities, or going other places without a parent. 

There are cognitive and behavioral therapies and medication that can be used to treat separation anxiety. But parents must choose whether to take kids to therapy or take medicine. As a nanny, I like to go to the library and borrow children’s books to help the kids in my care with separation anxiety. 

Here are my recommendations for children’s books to share with children experiencing separation anxiety: 

“I’ll Always Come Back to You” by Carmen Tafolla

“I’ll Always Come Back to You” by Carmen Tafolla is a humorous and touching book that reminds young readers that distance cannot diminish love. Perfect for children struggling with separation anxiety or a change in family life, this book represents a parent’s promise that they will be back, no matter what! Reassuring rhyme and amusing illustrations create a story to cherish when loved ones have gone away — and also when they’ve come back at last. The author recommends the book for 4- to 8-year-olds. 

“Bye-Bye Time” by Elizabeth Verdick

“Bye-Bye Time” by Elizabeth Verdick is a great book for toddlers. Being dropped off at childcare or being cared for by a new nanny means saying good-bye to Mom or Dad. For many toddlers, bye-bye is a big deal. This gentle book helps ease the transition with simple rituals: hugs and kisses, a big wave, a deep breath, and the confidence to seek comfort with the new caregiver or other children. Toddlers learn that good-bye isn’t forever, it’s just for a while. “Bye-Bye Time” offers a fresh look at the times and transitions all toddlers face daily, giving young children the tools to handle routines with confidence and cooperation. 

“The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst

Parents, educators, therapists, and social workers alike have declared “The Invisible String” the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief. It’s also been joyfully embraced as a year-round celebration of love — gifted at births, graduations, weddings, Valentine’s Day, and beyond. In this relatable and reassuring contemporary classic, a mother tells her two children that they’re all connected by an invisible string. “That’s impossible!” the children insist, but still they want to know more: “What kind of string?” The answer is the simple truth that binds us all: An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away? This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love.

“Llama Llama Misses Mama” by Anna Dewdney

In “Llama Llama Misses Mama” by Anna Dewdney it is Llama Llama’s first day of preschool! And Llama Llama’s mama makes sure he’s ready. They meet the teachers. See the other children. Look at all the books and games. But then it’s time for Mama to leave and suddenly Llama Llama isn’t so excited anymore. This is a great book to help young children prepare for separation anxiety on the first day of school. 

“What to Do When You Don’t Want to Be Apart: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Separation Anxiety” by Kristen Lavallee PhD and Silvia Schneider, Dr. rer. nat. 

This is a great self-help book for older kids with separation anxiety for 6- to 10-year-old children. “What to Do When You Don’t Want to Be Apart” guides children and their parents through the emotions underlying separation anxiety using strategies and techniques based on cognitive-behavioral principles. This interactive self-help book is the complete resource for educating, motivating, and empowering children to overcome separation anxiety — so they can become the confident pilots of their very own hot air balloons!

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