My little shadow - what's causing this?

[playfelt]

It happens at periods where on the one hand the child realizes they are independent but craves the security of the adult.

Anxiety of being "abandoned" by parent ie you as the adult represent the adult that left and they don't want you to leave too.

Helicopter parents at home that don't allow child to have his personal space and therefore he doesn't know what to do with himself when he is given the freedoms and gets afraid.

It can also be an irrational result of having actually been left alone and when child couldn't find parent got scared and now won't let them out of his sight and by default that applies to you too.

[Artsand crafts]

It has happened to me with several kids. For some take days, others weeks, but when they start feeling comfortable and transitioned they do not cry again when I am not besides them. What I do have seen is some kids that have been long time here and then out of the blue they decide to cry at drop off. That goes away too in a few days.