Who’s afraid of the
big bad wolf?
What do you do when a child is scared of
the dark? Childhood fears are very real to
the little one experiencing them. It can
be extremely stressful to deal with an
overactive imagination, and between the
ages of 3 to 6 it is perfectly normal.
“There is loads you can do to help your
little one,” says Roxy West, preschool
teacher at Faeryglen in Northriding. Here
is a practical plan for when the darkness
ascends and monsters become a reality.
• Be as calm as possible when you talk to
your child about her fear of the dark.
Provide her with a sense of safety; this will
help her handle her fear. Give the fear a
name, explain to your child what fear is and
help her to understand that it is normal.
Reassure your child that lots of people get
scared of the dark and that being scared is
completely normal. Try not to get frustrated
just because you know what she is afraid of
doesn’t exist. Don’t belittle or tease
her – while the monster may not be real,
the fear really is.
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• Kids regress at night and become
babylike. This is when you may hear, “I
want my mommy.” Support her and let her
know that this is okay.
• Empower your child. Arm her with her
comfort items such as her blanket, stuffed
animal or a flashlight which can help her
sleep soundly.
• Don’t go along with her fear of the
dark. Don’t say to her, “Let me make sure
there aren’t any monsters under the bed,”
says West. If you do say that you’re giving
her the idea that her fear has credibility,
and she won’t be able to get over it until
she understands the reality.
With an understanding parent’s
support, most children can get over
their fear of the dark in a few weeks.
However, if the fear lasts longer than
this, it could be worth chatting to your
paediatrician to determine if your
child could benefit from some
additional help.
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