PARENTS need to learn how to let go of their children, say psychiatrists.

Although well-intentioned, the constant presence of parents at school may do more harm than good.

Child psychiatrist Brian Yeo told The New Paper: 'Ultimately, you want the child to have a regular school experience.

'(A parent) going to school all the time may be counter-productive if it leads to the school or peers identifying the child as different.'

Empathising with parents who don't want to miss their child's first milestones, he said: 'Most parents would like to be present during a child's early years.

'It's normal for them to sit in at school for about a week, but if you are in the school environment with the child too much, he or she may be viewed as different by peers, making things even more awkward for them.

'In the case of Ms Mary, part of her over-protective behaviour might stem from insecurity, or issues and problems that she is facing.'

Dr Yeo had this advice for parents: 'If you're very concerned about your child who may have had a traumatic experience at home, such as a divorce, you can visit him or her sporadically, or get feedback from a teacher.

'Getting an older sibling to look out for the child, (if he or she is enrolled in the same school) is also a good idea.'

Psychologist Danny Ng says parents need to give their children space to cultivate basic social and interaction skills.

'Many people think that school is just about curriculum, but it's really a lot about imparting socialisation skills and independence,' he said.

'Adapting to school life is part of a child's maturation and development of independence.

'Decisions like what to eat and how to queue up are important skills. Even making friends is hard to do when parents are around.

He added that being in school beyond the first week may hinder the child's development.

'Maybe we need a support network for anxious parents, rather than for children,' he said with a laugh.

This article was first published in The New Paper.