Patient: My baby was born on August 24, 2006, one month premature, her actual age is now 24 and a half months, corrected age is 23 and a half months. Her language skills are good, she can speak all kinds of words and recite poems and songs. She also communicates well with adults at home, can do small things as instructed, and can express her feelings and thoughts very well. But she doesn’t like to play with children of her own age. I sent her to the nursery class and she has been in the class for almost a week now. The teacher reported that she doesn’t get along in the class, doesn’t listen to the teacher’s instructions, doesn’t play with other children, cries when she doesn’t like it, and won’t listen to any persuasion. Some people say my baby is still too young to be sent to kindergarten. They say that a child this age is in the first rebellious stage and sending her to kindergarten will have a negative impact on her psychology. I don’t know why her performance in kindergarten is so different from her performance at home. Is it really impossible to send a child this age to kindergarten? How can I help her overcome her anxiety? I’m very anxious now, I hope Dr. Ke can give me an answer. Nanjing Brain Hospital Child Psychology Research Center Ke Xiaoyan: 0 to 1 year old is a critical period for infants to establish close emotional ties with their relatives. Stranger anxiety is a milestone in the child’s psychological development, indicating that the child’s cognitive/emotional abilities are developing and that the child is able to distinguish between strangers and relatives. Stranger anxiety generally decreases after the age of 1 year, and in some children it persists until the age of 3-4 years. The child’s innate temperament and parenting style are the main influencing factors. We will need to consult with your child to determine what is affecting your child and how to adjust it.