According to the Center for Effective Parenting, fear of the dark is common in children, and children with strong imaginations often develop fears. This fear can often make it difficult for a child to go to sleep, and if it begins to interfere with daily life, parents are urged to seek professional help. However, with some understanding and comfort, parents can usually help their child overcome his fear of the dark.
Step 1
Talk about your child's fears. This helps you understand exactly what is causing her fear of the dark and gives her the chance to explain her fears. Often just talking about them can make her feel better. This gives you the chance to tell her that being afraid is OK while coming up with solutions to the problem together.
Step 2
Comfort your child. Providing reassurance by telling him you are in the next room and that he is safe can help him feel more comfortable in the dark.
Step 3
Use calming techniques. Playing soft-music CDs gives your child something else to focus on. Using a dimmer switch or night light to keep her bedroom from being completely dark can help alleviate fears. Older children can learn breathing exercises that will help them remain calm when they begin to get scared.
Step 4
Limit exposure to scary things. Carefully monitoring books, cartoons and movies that your child may see cuts down on exposure to materials that could make him more fearful at night. This is especially important right before going to bed.
Step 5
Use gradual exposure to reduce fear. Dimming the room more and more over time can help a child ease into sleeping in the dark. Playing hide-and-seek in dim or dark rooms can also help your child see that the dark isn't really scary. Give your child a flashlight to take into dark rooms with him so that he can turn it on if he needs to.
Step 6
Reward your child's progress. Giving your child stickers, small toys or extra privileges will provide some incentive to working on overcoming her fear. Celebrating successes will make her feel good about her progress and encourage her to keep working on it.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't force your child to spend time in the dark if he is set against it. Work together on reducing his fears before doing things in the dark.
Things You'll Need
- Dimmer switch
- Night light
- Radio
- Soft music
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