SEPARATION TRIGGERS KIDS' GREATEST ANXIETY.

• Position: Brief Article

Many children fear the boogie man and the monster under the bed, but some kids' anxieties have nothing to do with make-believe creatures. For them, separating from their parents--even for a short time--creates great physical or emotional distress.

"More children suffer from anxiety disorders than any other psychological problem," notes Wendy Nilsen, a graduate therapist in the Purdue University Anxiety Clinic, West Lafayette, Ind. "The most common type of anxiety in children is fear of being separated from their parents." Such youngsters are afraid they will become hurt or lost while away from their parents or that their parents will be in danger.

A child's natural temperament can play a part in separation anxiety. Also, many toddlers go through a developmental stage where they fear strangers or separation from their parents--usually starting at about age nine months and ending about age two, indicates Scott Vrana, associate professor of psychological sciences and director of the Anxiety Clinic. For some kids, the condition persists throughout childhood, even causing problems in adolescence and adulthood. "Very often, it is not seen until the child starts preschool, or a parent takes a job outside the home for the first time. Sometimes, life stresses, such as a serious illness or changing schools, can trigger separation anxiety.

"If the child doesn't calm down within 10 minutes after you leave, or...