CONSCIOUS PARENTING
Christmas time can bring thoughts of Santa. The
same sound in the summer might bring a mental
picture of a scary monster. Same sound. Different
image that either brings joy or fear. Children can
begin to see how they create fears.
Fear has colors. Young children may not be able to
verbalize their feelings and thoughts on fear but
they can color what it feels like after an experience
that is fearful. Helping children to relax with deep
breathing during something that appears fearful
is an important first step in gaining control. Fear
can precipitate breathing to be on ‘hold’ or to be
very shallow. Without proper oxygen intake, tension builds and fear can become more intensely
felt. Oxygen can release some tension and bring a
calmer feeling during fear and even help eliminate
the fear.
Knowing where the tension starts in the body
during fear is essential. Just labeling fear is not
enough. There is a connection to one place where
it begins in the body. If that builds tension and
spreads throughout the body, fear gains control of
a person. If it is ‘nipped in the bud’ and self-help
tools are used, fear diminishes and a person feels
‘in control’ of fear instead of the other way around.
It is empowering!
Making a list of fears with a child can bring greater
awareness as well as discussions around fear. We
all have them and experienced fear since childhood. Share with each other. It will enrich the understanding and the fact that all humans know
what fear is. What matters is what we do with it so
that it does not freeze us into submission.
60 | NEW CONSCIOUSNESS REVIEW
After practicing deep breathing, coloring fear, using puppets to do role plays and any other creative
endeavors you create around fear to education
children, ask young ones for ideas about how to
learn more about things they are afraid of. Make
up some role-plays and act them out together or
take turns.
Try contrasting experiences, demonstrating fear
gaining control and causing a freeze as well as using self-help tools and gaining self-control to overcome fear. Have fun. Kids love this kind of thing.
Use body outlines to mark and X where fear starts
in the body. If every family member does this, children will readily gain awareness and not feel alone
in this endeavor. Each person can color their own
body outlines and show what fear looks and feels
like inside. It will stimulate inspirational discussions.