According to Kids Health, being scared of specific things is a normal part of being a child. Between the ages of 4 and 6, your child probably is frightened of unrealistic things, such as monsters. Older children begin experiencing fears associated with reality, such as fear of getting hurt. Dealing with fears is an important part of normal growth and development, because it teaches your child how to deal with uncomfortable or scary situations in an appropriate way. As a parent, you can help your child overcome his fears.
Step 1
Talk to your child about his fears. Ask him to tell you what is afraid of and why it is scary to him. Talking about his fears can help your child realize that his fear is not as big a deal as he thought it was, according to Kids Health.
Step 2
Do not go out of your way to avoid what scares your child. Acknowledge your child's fear, but do not give in to her requests to completely avoid situations that frighten her. You don't want to send the message that she has a rational reason to be afraid of something.
Step 3
Ask your child to rate his fear on as scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being least frightening. This can encourage him to think about the likelihood that his fear actually could harm him, which could help him put his fear in perspective, according to Kids Health.
Step 4
Expose your child to his fear in small doses. Start by showing your child pictures of what he is afraid of, according to the website Healthy Children. Talk about the pictures, and ask your child to point out what makes her scared. Show your child what she is afraid of from a distance, and allow her to watch her fear in action. For example, if she is scared of dogs, let her watch some dogs playing or taking a walk. Work up to having your child interact with what she is afraid of, either by touching it or watching it up close.
Step 5
Teach your child some coping strategies that will help him deal with and overcome his fears. Tell your child that you will be with him as he interacts with what he is afraid of, and encourage him to come to you when he gets scared. Show your child how to say positive statements, such as, "I can do this," to himself when starts to feel frightened. Tell him to close his eyes and visualize a favorite place to help him through his feelings of fear.
Tips and Warnings
- Validate your child's fear and support him as he works to overcome what he is afraid of. Offer positive reinforcement when he is able to make progress so he is encouraged to keep working on putting his fears behind him.
- Do not criticize your child or make fun of him when he is afraid. He needs support, and you cannot convince your child to be brave. Your child needs to overcome his fear, and belittling him will only teach him how to hide it.
Member Comments