Separation anxiety: My pre-teen is still clinging to us

Dependent teen: My preteen child wants me around her all the time. Photo: TNS

Is it normal for pre-teens to have separation anxiety? My daughter doesn’t want me to leave the house without her, and says she misses me when we’re apart.  There have been no dramatic changes in our family life during the last few months, so I’m having a hard time understanding her behaviour.  Do you know why she might be acting this way? 

Sudden and disturbing changes in a child’s behaviour are usually the results of dramatic alterations in the circumstances of his or her life.  You state specifically that nothing has changed in your family life within the recent past.  If that’s true, then there is a possibility that something has changed in your daughter’s school environment or that she’s experienced some kind of stressful event of which you’re unaware.