Mom, can you lend me your cortex? …
Whether he has a little upset or a huge fright, a little cabbage needs to be told that it’s okay anyway … It’s all in the head my brave lady! Because the adult cortex (part of the brain) is particularly evolved (yes, yes, no false modesty!), We manage to “reassure ourselves” when something frightens us: “But no, it’s nothing, I’m delirious, everything is going to be fine, etc.”
On the other hand, did you imagine that that of your little genius was still immature and that he was therefore unable to reason with himself? In other words, it’s mom’s job to take over, through the brain in a way, it is she who will reassure her toddler while waiting for him to be able to do it on his own, and to go there with her reassuring verse “it is nothing, wolves it does not live in the suburbs of Lyon, but no interplanetary monsters cannot land on the lawn, daddy has just watered, it’s too slippery, you think! “. Yes, being parents means sharing everything, baby’s fears and mom’s cortex. And of course to arrange everything… Isn’t life beautiful?
Surprise games: fear for laughs
Long before the scary stories, baby likes the surprise games that make him slightly tremble (we said slightly, no question of causing him a cardiac arrest). In addition to the suspense that stimulates his attention, they allow the baby to develop accommodation patterns and attitudes in the face of different situations. Professor Marcelli, author of an essay on the question, explains that many of our anxieties stem from our inability to face the unexpected. By dint of wanting to control everything, good or bad, surprises stress us out. So to make him a happy adult, don’t hesitate to tease baby a little:
Around three months: Hello who is it?
Hide her favorite plush behind your back, then pull her out sharply saying “Hello who is it?”. She gives baby a kiss and goes back to hiding just as quickly. Pretend you’re looking for her. Repeat several times, varying the location of the kisses (be careful, not too much on the face for toddlers).
Around 6 months: Gourmet rabbit
Take baby’s hand, and fold his fingers inside, one by one, saying:
“This little bunny ate all the carrots
This little bunny ate all the shallots
This little bunny ate all the sour cherries
This little bunny ate all the poop
And the little rikiki, what is he going to eat? Your handcuffs! ” (pretend to eat his hands)
From 1 year old: You got me!
Let baby hide under a tea towel. Pretend you can’t find it. It must appear frightening you and you, to exclaim of course: “You got me! “. A reverse surprise very beneficial to his… ego.
The stars of the petoche (to amuse him without traumatizing him!): – In books: “The little animals” by Antoon Krings (Gallimard Jeunesse, € 5,90), a series of books whose heroes are insects. – On CD-rom: “It’s scary” (Bayard Jeunesse, € 19,67 in a 3-CD box), games about witches, sharks, wolves and other ghosts and even a “factory” to make monsters!) – In video: “The world of Nemo” where everyone faces their fears. – On TV: “Wolf are you there?” (Canal + decoded) |