You’ve got this, mama!
Children can have both rational and irrational fears. It is often easier than you think to get your child to overcome fears.
If you don’t deal with these fears head on though, it can make your life a little bit of a nightmare.
Here are some of the common fears children tend to have and the right way to deal with them.
The Dentist And Doctors
It’s worth noting that the fear of going to the dentist is a recognised phobia! I should know, I have it myself.
It’s not just kids that are terrified of taking a trip to see these professionals. Adults can hate this too.
You might think that you can get away with avoiding the dentist with younger kids. After all, it’s possible that you assume that their baby teeth are going to fall out anyway.
However, you still need to ensure the health of your kid’s gums. You will also need to make sure you are aware whether your child needs braces.
The good news is that options like invisalign mean that braces no longer need to be a massive eyesore.
The trick with dentists or doctors is finding the right family friendly pro who will help your kids feel comfortable.
Scared Of The Dark
Why are people scared of the dark? Well, this is actually an innate fear that dates back thousands of years.
When we lived in caves, we were safe throughout the day. But the night was dark and filled with terrors.
This was when predators came out to play so back then being scared of the dark wasn’t irrational. It’s important to give your child coping mechanisms to deal with a fear like this.
You might want to set up a night light in their bedroom.
Or, you could think about showing them there’s nothing lurking in the shadows.
Being Alone
Often tied to a fear of the dark is a fear of being alone, particularly at night. But, children can also be scared of being alone through the day as well.
For instance, they might not want to go to school because it involves leaving you.
Don’t worry, this fear is soon going to pass and it’s just a case of reassuring your child that nothing is going to happen or that you will always come back for them. This can also prevent (or at least tame!) temper tantrums in young kiddo’s.
Being on time to pick them up and giving them a hearty breakfast in the morning will help here a lot.
Creepy Crawlies
Finally, it is possible that your child is terrified of bugs and little beasts. Again, this isn’t always confined to childhood.
However, if you can tackle this fear at that stage, things are going to be far easier for your kids.
They won’t constantly be terrified of the little creatures that sometimes visit your home.
Getting your child to hold a spider is a risky move and takes patience. But it could bring huge benefits if you get this step right.
I hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to tackle common childhood fears and ensure that they don’t continue to plague your child for years.
Photo by Lucas Pezeta from Pexels
