Common Childhood Fears
Everyone experiences fear, from the littlest babe to the oldest adult. Fear is a normal, human emotion. Children are especially prone to fears as there is much in the world that seems big and scary to them. As children grow and develop, their fears will change too.Anxiety and Fear
Many times what makes us anxious is what we fear. Anxiety can be defined as apprehension without a clear cause. When children feel anxiety, it can be a good thing as it can make them behave in a manner that doesn’t pose as much danger.
When babies are separated from their parents, especially from the parent who spends the most time with them, they react with anxiety and fear that their parents won’t return. They may also exhibit signs of stranger anxiety; when meeting new people and turn away in fear and cling to the parent.
Children between the ages of four to six will have fears and anxiety about fantasy creatures and things that go bump in the night like monsters, witches and ghosts. These are fears most parents are familiar with and chances are they’ll have many tools in their bag with which to soothe their fearful child. Older children of seven through twelve usually have fears about real concerns such as terrorist attacks, fear of getting hurt, facing peers in school and natural disasters.
Don’t Make Light
Many of us are still tortured by things that frightened us as children well into adulthood. Knowing there is no basis for that fear is no comfort. To help your child cope with common fears, never make light of the situation. Always make your child feel safe and secure in the knowledge that as long as you are watching over them, nothing bad will ever happen to them. If a child is afraid to sleep without a light, give them a night light. Everybody was once afraid of the dark. Making a frightened child sleep in the dark serves no purpose at all.
Filed under: Behavior Problems
