Help your children take responsibility for every day tasks, set boundaries, while teaching Life-Skills & Values

Teaching Children About Fundamental Trust In Adults

By Pat Baker

Tina is 2yrs old. It is the first time that her father is taking her to preschool. He involves her in play and when she is not looking he sneaks away without saying goodbye or when he will be back.

He doesn't want to be late for work and is afraid that if he says goodbye Tina will begin to cry and he will not be able to leave. Tina cried for a long time after he left and spent most of her day looking at the door wondering if he was ever coming back.

The next day she did not want to go to preschool and would not let go of her father’s leg from the moment they arrived. It was impossible to engage her in any form of play because she was afraid that he would leave when she was not looking. If he had told her that he was going to leave, would be back, when and who would be looking after her she may have cried but would not have been worried if would return at all. She would have known where he was going and who she should turn to if she needed anything or felt sad.