Understanding a toddler’s attachment to security blankets can be a challenge to most parents especially if their son or daughter is already turning five and still couldn't let go of their "cuddly lovey". According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, these transitional objects in a form of a crib blanket, a stuffed toy, a pillow or a bolster, are just a natural part of growing up and can be eventually given up.
Providing your little ones the sense of security and emotional support they need when they begin to explore the world and try to be more independent, these undeniably have magical powers. It has the ablility to pacify the kids, give them the comfort they need, boost their confidence in all situations.
The Science about Security Blankets
A study published in the journal Cognition suggested that a child may become so attached to his or her security blanket or toy because he or she considers that it has an inimitable property or essence. The two principal researchers of the said study,
Professor Bruce Hood from the University of Bristol and Dr. Paul Bloom from Yale, drew parallels between children’s behavior with their blankets and adult behavior with memorabilia. The association of this special toy to your child's growth and development is normal just like thumb sucking.
Since such attachment is temporary, you may apply the following ways as to how parents could help the kids kiss their security blanket goodbye.
Don't tease them. Rushing them or insisting that they should give it up does more harm than good. Do it step by step, little by little. You surely don't want to look like a monster mom to you kid, right?
Talk to them and let them understand that it's time to let go. Introduce new toys and playmates - letting the kids play around. Keeping them busy doing other things will lessen their time being clingy to their "blankets". Communicating with them in the way you think best is always a good move.
Have some "send off" ceremony. Making the kids feel your support to their attachment plays a vital role. Let the kids help you set up a mini-party to mark its departure. This sounds relly funny yet it lessens the risk of separation anxiety.
Enlist your child’s natural creativity and empathy by giving the object a story that will make them feel better about that initial separation that eventually can aid in "moving on".
Always remember that abrupt removal of the object or restraining total access too fast is more likely to backfire - making the process take much longer.
Now, do you think you can be of help in bidding their "blankie" goodbye? Let us know.
