Seven Tips for Overcoming
By Christa
“ Mommy , keep the hall light on ,” my six-yearold reminds me as I tuck his beloved blanket securely around his slender frame and lean over to kiss him good night .
I ’ ve plugged in a night light in his room and another in the adjoining bathroom . The orange glow of the street lamp outside bounces off the wall over his bed . He already seems bathed in light , but I flip the hall light on anyway .
Ten minutes later , I ’ m rewarded with the sweet , evenkeeled breathing of a child asleep .
I ’ m one of the lucky ones . According to Dr . Jane Sosland , a clinical child and adolescent psychologist , nearly 30 % of children have sleep problems and oftentimes , bedtime battles can last well past midnight .
Fear of the dark is a normal part of development and one of the most common childhood problems plaguing families of school-age children . Kids who are afraid of the dark take nearly an hour longer than others to fall asleep . Without a good night ’ s sleep , children can suffer behavior and mood issues and have trouble concentrating at school .
How can parents best support a frightened kiddo ?
Discuss the fear . Listen carefully to your child , without playing into their fears , to see if you can identify a trigger . Nighttime fear might be caused by a fairy tale before bed or even a stressful event during the school day .
“ Maybe somebody was mean to them on the playground ,” Sosland says . “ It could also be there ’ s some separation anxiety that occurs during the day , as well as at night , in terms of being able to sleep by themselves .”
Other times , the fear won ’ t make much sense at all .
“ Just by hearing what kids are saying , helps them feel heard and validated , which can help eliminate irrational fears ,” explains Berkley James , a pediatric sleep
22 | ST JOHNS Parent MAGAZINE