What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Separation Anxiety - Paperback

by Kristen Lavallee (Author), Silvia Schneider (Author), Janet McDonnell (Illustrator)

Can kids feel brave when they're apart from loved ones? Yes--and this workbook helps them soar with confidence!

Being away from parents, caregivers, or familiar places can feel scary. Whether it's going to school, a sleepover, or just saying goodbye, separation anxiety can make everyday moments feel overwhelming. But kids don't have to stay grounded by fear--they can learn to lift off with courage.

What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart is an interactive guide that helps kids understand separation anxiety and discover tools to feel safe and strong. With engaging activities, colorful illustrations, and expert strategies, this workbook empowers kids to become the confident pilots of their own emotional journeys.

Whether your child is nervous about school drop-off or anxious when you're out of sight, this book offers a safe space to explore those feelings--and helps them take flight with confidence.

Key Features:

• Perfect for kids ages 6-12 who struggle with separation anxiety or fear of being alone
• Uses proven cognitive-behavioral techniques to help kids manage anxious thoughts and build independence
• Encourages emotional awareness and bravery through fun, hands-on exercises
• Includes a supportive guide for parents and caregivers to help children feel secure and supported
• Part of the trusted What-to-Do Guides for Kids series--used by parents, educators, and therapists for more 20 years
• Created by Magination Press, the children's imprint of the American Psychological Association--leaders in children's mental health and well-being

Author Biography

Kristen Lavallee, PhD, co-author of What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart, is a developmental and school psychologist, and has worked with children in the U.S. and Switzerland. She has coauthored empirical studies and a book chapter on treatment for separation anxiety, and is managing editor of the scientific journal European Psychologist. She lives with her family in Providence, RI.

Silvia Schneider, Dr. rer. nat., co-author of What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart, is a professor of child clinical psychology at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. She has conducted several studies on childhood separation anxiety disorder (SAD), and authored a treatment manual in German for SAD.

Janet McDonnell's illustrations combine traditional media and digital techniques. In addition to illustrating books, magazines, and puzzles, Janet has both taught and written for children from preschool to high school ages. She is the illustrator of numerous books for children including Bye Bye Pesky Fly, What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart, and Blossom Plays Possum. Visit www.janetmcdonnell.com and follow Facebook: @janetmcdonnell.illustrator Twitter: @dcdonnelldoodle Instagram: @janetmcdonnellillo.