Practitioners should acknowledge the feelings that separation can trigger in a young child, a parent and themselves, says Anne O'Connor.

Seb and his mother arrive at nursery. Although he can handle being away from his mother for short periods, he is still finding the transition from home to the setting quite traumatic. He cries when mum has to leave him, but allows the practitioner to take him from her and give him a cuddle even as he reaches out for mum.

Later, when mum arrives to pick him up, he is a bit tearful at first and clearly relieved that she is back. But he isn't clingy and recovers quickly. He is keen to tell mum about his day and runs off to show her something. He then runs joyfully back to mum and snuggles up to her. Giving her a kiss, he tells mum he missed her.

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