How to respond to children’s fears? Very different, there is no single recipe. Some fears of a child can and should be laughed at merrily, some fears need to be seriously and thoughtfully dealt with.
It is important to consider that men and women have different approaches to fears in children. If a woman is going to respond to childhood fears, her first impulse is to take the child seriously and start working with it. Women usually pay attention to the feelings of the child and to a small extent engage in the behavior of the child, assuming that the behavior of the child stems from his feelings. It is natural for women to talk to the child about his feelings, so that the child talks about his fears, and in this story, show the child that he is sufficiently protected that it is normal to be afraid, but not to such an extent.
Men are less inclined to work with children’s fears, it is easier and more understandable for them to react to children’s fears: once to support a child, once to shame. Men are more likely to engage in behavior rather than feelings, so girls’ fears confuse them, and they deal with boys’ fears simply: “Stop being afraid, go ahead!”. It is important for them to stop the behavior of fear and they require the behavior of courage.
If neither mother’s nor father’s approach helps and the child continues to disturb the parents with their fears, the child is taken to a psychologist or psychotherapist, and they begin to work — sometimes with children’s fears, sometimes — with parents who are afraid of everything and set a bad example for the child.
The following collection of articles will help parents figure out how to respond to the most common childhood fears.
The child is afraid to enter the room alone and generally dark places. What to do? Play more outdoor games with children, and let there be hide-and-seek among these games. And in hide and seek, sooner or later he will need to hide somewhere in a dark corner, in some closet, in some back room — and in the flow of the game he will begin to forget about his fears.
One of the biggest problems of children’s fantasizing is related to the underdevelopment of self-awareness in a child. Because of this, he often cannot distinguish between what is reality and what is his own experiences and fantasies.
Read more… Children’s horror stories
Questions about life and death arise in the process of confrontation with the idea of the finiteness of life. The result of new childhood experiences is the sudden emergence of new fears and an increase in anxiety.
Read on… The Mystery of Life and the Fear of Death
Some incomprehensible, but powerful force, contrary to reason and fear, attracts children to transcend territorial prohibitions and experience something exceptionally important, without which it will be difficult to live on.
Read more… Children’s practice of visiting «terrible places»
The most effective way to eliminate nightmares will be to reduce daytime fears in children, increase their self-confidence, and improve relationships in the family.
Read on… How to help kids sleep better at night
Little children are always in darkness in the sense that their inexperience, ignorance, lack of a precise understanding of what is real and what is not, leave them to be torn apart by the immediate sensations of the moment. The idea that angels or God can take their parents away from them is very disturbing and frightening for children.
Read on…How to talk to your child about death
The child, joining the game, crosses the threshold of shyness and fear, wins and suffers defeats, constantly commensurating his behavior with the requirements of the group. Imitation in the game of your favorite heroes, fearless pilots, sailors helps to overcome the fear and fright that are inevitable in any game.
Read on… Corrective games for childhood fears
Sometimes it is not clear whether the child is really afraid of something or is more inventing his own fear. What to do if a child scares us with his fears? Read on… Mom, I’m afraid of the monster!
Sometimes it is quite clear that the child invented his own fear, but this is not always easier. How to talk about this topic with a child? Read more… Mom, I’m afraid of dad!
Children cope with their fears on their own if the family has a cheerful atmosphere.
Read more… Fear of death in childhood and adolescence
Hydrophobia in children is a neurotic symptom. Comes suddenly, at the age of 4-5 years. It would seem that even a year ago the baby frolicked in the water, you can’t pull it by the ears — and suddenly a panic fear to go even knee-deep.
Read more… Fear of water in children
These games will help the child quietly overcome the fear of the dark.
Read on… Fear of the dark in children (correctional games)