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Supporting Separation Anxiety in Early Elementary Students: Practical Strategies for K–2 Classrooms

Presented by Dr. Amy Vigliotti & Stephanie Shih, M.S.Ed | Sept 8, 2026 7PM EST

1 HOUR | LIVE ONLINE via ZOOM | INTERACTIVE

Subject Areas: Early Childhood, Classroom Instruction & Pedagogy, Counseling/Health/Mental Health

Target Grade Level: Pre-K–Grade 2

Separation anxiety can significantly impact a child’s ability to transition into the classroom, participate independently, and regulate emotions throughout the school day. This interactive workshop provides early educators with practical, compassionate, and developmentally informed strategies for supporting students experiencing separation-related distress. Participants will explore the psychology of separation anxiety, common maintaining factors, and how well-intentioned adult responses can sometimes unintentionally reinforce avoidance or dependency. Through role-play scenarios, classroom case examples, and collaborative problem-solving, educators will learn how to create calm, predictable transitions while balancing empathy with confidence-building. Topics include effective morning routines, co-regulation techniques, communication with caregivers, and strategies for reducing reassurance cycles. The workshop emphasizes helping children build emotional resilience and trust in their ability to cope independently while maintaining strong classroom connection and emotional safety.
Teachers, therapists, social workers, and other early childhood professionals working with young children will benefit from this webinar. 
REGISTER FREE (with Attendance Certificate)
REGISTER with CE Certificate ($19)
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Objectives

1. Describe common signs and maintaining factors associated with separation anxiety in K–2 students.

2. Identify classroom-based transition strategies that support independent entry into the school day.

3. Describe co-regulation techniques that reduce escalation during moments of separation distress.

4. Analyze how reassurance, avoidance, and accommodation may unintentionally reinforce anxious behaviors.

5. Identify ways to create a classroom response plan that balances emotional support with gradual independence-building.

How to Obtain Your CE Certificate:

  • You MUST attend the webinar from start to finish

  • You MUST submit the evaluation form after the webinar (will be sent via email) 

You will receive your certificate/credits within 48 hours after fulfilling the above requirements via email.

This Workshop Offers The Following CE Certificate/Credits

You will select your Certificate or Credit Type after you pay the registration fee. After that, you'll be redirected to a form where you’ll be prompted to choose the Certificate/Credit Type you wish to receive.

1.0 CTLE CONTACT HOURS

New York State Education Department, Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE)
Provider Code #23394
Approval Period: 3/29/22 - 3/29/2027

Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department's Office of Teaching Initiatives as an approved sponsor of CTLE for Professional Classroom Teachers, School Leaders and Level III Teaching Assistants.

1.0 NYSED SW CONTACT HOURS

New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work (NYSED SW)
Provider Code #0365
Approval Period: 8/31/25 - 8/31/28

Young Child Learning is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers. Young Child Learning maintains responsibility for the program. Social work professionals should contact their regulatory board to confirm course approval for continuing education credits.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel within 30 days before the event, the registration fee is not refundable. However, you will receive a credit for the registration fee which can be applied to another Young Child Learning event within the following 12 months. The processing fee is non-refundable. 

Speaker's Biography

Amy Vigliotti, PhD, is a child and adult psychologist, and adjunct professor at Adelphi University. In 2014, she founded the NYC-based group practice, SelfWorks. Prior to opening SelfWorks, Dr. Amy led a program for traumatized youth at the Child Advocacy Center at Jacobi Medical Center. Her work specializes in helping individuals thrive after upsetting/confusing events. Dr. Amy is a recognized speaker on a wide variety of mental health topics, with a particular passion for fostering self-trust and healthy attachments in children and adolescents. This work stems back to her adolescence when her poem, “I Am,” was published in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. “I Am” is used in the educational curriculum at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth and has sparked resiliency in thousands of students. Dr. Amy integrates mindfulness (the art of being present) into everything she does. You can sample some of her guided meditations on Spotify by searching Unwind: Guided Relaxation.

Speaker's Biography

Stephanie Shih is a therapist-in-training at SelfWorks. With a compassionate and collaborative approach, Stephanie helps children and families navigate challenges around anxiety, behavioral concerns, emotional regulation, school-related stress and life transitions. In addition to her role at SelfWorks, Stephanie works as a high school counselor at LREI. She holds a M.S.Ed in School Counseling and is currently completing her Mental Health Advanced Certificate through the University at Buffalo. Prior to becoming a counselor, she spent over a decade as a marketing professional.

Host's Biography

Dr. Scott Mesh is the Director of Young Child Learning and the CEO and Co-Founder of Los Niños Services which serves 2,000 young children with special needs each year through homecare and center services. He is a Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with young children and their families and is an expert on assessing young children for developmental disabilities and autism. He has helped thousands of parents over the years make the transition to gaining help for their children through early childhood special education services. He is a leader in early childhood development and working effectively with parents.

System Requirements

You can access this webinar from various devices and platforms, on both PC and Mac desktops/laptops, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices. Our system requirements for these follow below.

Minimum system requirements

  • Browser: The latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or Opera for desktop/laptop
  • A broadband connection with a minimum speed of 5 Mbps

PC specific requirements

  • Platform: Windows 8.1 or higher with the latest updates installed
  • RAM: 4GB or more
  • Video: Graphics output capability
  • Sound: Sound output capability

Mac specific requirement

  • Platform: Mac OS X 10.12 or higher with the latest updates installed
  • RAM: 4GB or more
  • Video: Graphics output capability
  • Sound: Sound output capability

Mobile specific requirements

  • iOS 15.0 and above
  • Android 7.0 and above

Grievance Policy & Procedure

 
 
Young Child Learning will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants.
 
The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of Young Child Learning. All grievances must be submitted in writing (via e-mail or mail) within 7 days after purchase of the webinar. Any supporting documents must be included with the submitted complaint.
 
For all grievances, contact information (name, phone number, and email) must be provided in the case that the Young Child Learning team may need clarification.

 

Submit complaints in writing to Young Child Learning, 505 8th Avenue, Floor 12A Room 02, New York, NY 10018 or via email at [email protected].

Special Accommodations or Requests

Individuals in need of special accommodations should contact the Admin, Cari Laroza at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 to make a request. Include name, contact info, webinar details, and accommodation needs. Our team will review requests and respond within 7-12 business days. Confidentiality is maintained. Compliance with ADA is assured.

 

Requests for special accommodations must be made prior to purchasing the webinar.

 

Individuals will be informed if the request can be accommodated.  Once the individual confirms, the special accommodations will be secured. If the individual finds that they no longer need of the accommodations, they must inform the Admin.

For questions/inquiries:

Contact Cari Laroza (Administrator) for  any questions

at (212) 787-9700 ext. 3330 or via email at [email protected]