It is normal for children to sometimes feel anxious or insecure when separated from their parents or other important caregivers. Usually, such separation anxiety fades as they grow up and become more confident. If your child’s separation anxiety continues to persist after the age of five and starts affecting his or her life (e.g. refuses to be out of sight of parent), then your child may have Separation Anxiety Disorder, which involves excessive anxiety when a child is, or is expecting, to be separated from home or a loved one (such as a parent or a caregiver).