Little kids are very attached to their parents. Children need their parents for just about anything and will follow them around everywhere. So, the second you want to step out to buy groceries without them or have to go to work, they’re a screaming crying mess. Being away from you can be very frustrating for your kids. In fact, research has shown that kids experience a high level of stress in school and kindergarten because of the long separation from their parents and it affects the development of their brain negatively (1). But this doesn’t mean that you can never have a minute alone or be apart from your child. Situations like this can be improved and handled well if you know what to do. Here are a couple of things that you can do to make the parting easier for your child so that they can feel your love for them from a Distance.

1. Get Your Child’s Attention

Communication is one attachment ritual that can help you and your child. With its help you can fulfill a child’s need for a warm and deep connection with their loved ones, especially with someone as important as their children.In order to accomplish this, you should enter their personal space in a friendly way. One easy way to do that is to establish eye contact and get close to your child. To do this, try spending time with them in ways that they will appreciate. Come up to them and join the game they are playing or ask how their day has been. Over time, spending quality time with your little ones will help you establish a closer, warmer and stronger connection and a meaningful relationship with them. Your communication will bring them joy and closure even when you leave.

2. Build A Child’s Communication Circle

Unfortunately you can’t spend 100% of your time with your child. Use this matchmaking ritual to shape a close circle of friends for your child so that they can support you as your child grows up. Make sure you select people that your child can be comfortable around and then build reliable relationships between your child and the person you entrust them with. Kids have a tendency to be shy when you first meet someone new so be sure to make a warm and friendly introduction. This will help your child feel safe and activate their inclination for friendship and closeness. This is also a great way for your child to understand that their parents approve of the other adult in question. So they are going to have an easier time trusting them and establishing a bond with them. Bring out similar interests and hobbies your child and the individual has. If your child loves cookies, mentioning that grandma bakes the best cookies is a great way to get them feeling comfortable and interested in grandma quickly.

But remember that no matter how wide a kid’s communicational circle is, parents should always keep the leading role. So be clear when expressing who your children are allowed to contact and reach out to in case of emergencies.

3. Bridge The Parting With Your Baby

If your little one is below the age of 6, being away from you can be their personal version of hell. So, what can you do to make things easier for them? Well for starters, leave them with their other parents if you can. If one of you is busy, then try to coordinate your schedule with your partner’s and figure out a way for one of yall to stay with the kid. Your child trusts you the most and will be the most comfortable around a parent. Another thing you can do is bridge the distance between the two of you. The age of social media has made this so easy for parents. Set aside time to facetime them everyday for 10 minutes while on a business trip. Send them pictures and videos of the places you’re visiting and ask them to send you some daily updates as well. Although they might still miss you, it will make the distance easier to deal with.

Lastly, make a few plans to make up for lost time. Telling your kids that they can visit the zoo or go to the beach the next weekend after you’re back with them is a great way to ease the pain of you being away.

Parenting kids is never easy. But being away from them is way tougher. Most parents just end up feeling guilty and horrible when they are apart from their kids. But you don’t have to be. Your children can manage a few days without you. And you know what they say, distance does make the heart grow fonder. Happy parenting!