Helping Your Young Child With Their Fears
Helping Your Young Child With Their Fears
Helping your young child cope with their fears
Fear can play a role in helping young children stay alert, especially in situations that are new or different. The presence of fear in young children can be a sign that their brain is developing as it should, able to warn them of the danger.
Young children can be particularly frightened because they have active imaginations. Because of this they may be worried about unforeseen calamities or purely believing monsters.
What scares children will change with age. Between the ages of 10 months and 2 years, many young children experience a type of fear called separation anxiety. They do not want their parents to leave them, whether it is day care or bedtime. To try to persuade a parent or other caregiver to stay, a small child may cry and physically cling to another person.
Some small kids might have a more extensive dread, like dimness, while different kids fear unmistakable things, from canines to bugs, even a grass trimmer or a vacuum more clean. Some young child daycare near me will focus on the things that sound the alarm and spend time drawing them, using clay to make them, often talking about them, and so on. This can be a common way to deal with fear.
So, if you know something scares your little one, what should you do? How should you help your toddler work through fear?
Ideally, you will know what is wrong, that is, a specific source of fear. The challenge is that young children do not usually have the language skills they are afraid to explain - but do your best to find out what they are afraid of and why.
Whatever the answer, don't dismiss the fear or try to disturb your toddler. This can make matters worse. So, instead of saying, "Oh, you're fine. Don't be afraid," you might say, "I see it's scary for you when you're around cats." When you show your toddler that you understand their fears, it can be a relief.
Don't go too far to keep the baby away from the source of fear - in our case, cats - because it can give the fear more time to grow.
Kiddie Academy of Stafford offers 10 tips on the most common problems that frighten young children. Fear of the dark is often caused by a child who feels insecure and anxious because he cannot see what is around them. To help, install a night light in your toddler's room and teach them how to turn on the lights. It can give them a sense of control. You can allow your toddler light as needed at bedtime and then gradually reduce it. You can also go for a walk together in the dark to discuss what makes the darkness interesting - for example, your ability to see the bright moon and the shining stars.
Meanwhile, worries about monsters can indicate fear of the unknown and how something harmful can be hidden around. Instead of saying the monsters aren't real, a doctor tells Kiddie Academy of Stafford that it could help parents check out monsters with a small child: in the closet, under the bed and in the corners. You can also put a sign that no monsters are allowed. It shows the child that you are taking the situation seriously and helping them to overcome their fears.
If the fear persists, talk to your pediatrician for medical advice.
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