Everybody is afraid of something. Some fears are common, others are seemingly
bizarre. Some fears are those of
childhood and are outgrown before puberty; others progress and become worse in
adulthood. Some people have fear that is
debilitating; others have fear that makes them behave comically and laugh at
themselves.
Most childhood fears dissipate early on, but when a child
feels fear it is very real for them, oftentimes causing them stress and maybe
upsetting their eating and sleeping habits.
One of the most common fears for small children is the fear
of the dark. What makes them so
fearful? Small children tend to be
afraid of unfamiliar things that they don’t understand or can’t control. They have active imaginations. This is evident in their playtime
antics. Whether they have an imaginary
friend, spend hours playing with Barbie or GI Joe or entertain dolls with
plastic cake and empty tea cups. Sometimes their inability to distinguish
between reality and fantasy means they may believe that monsters are under the
bed or in the wardrobe waiting to spring once the light goes out.
If not addressed, a child’s fear of the dark may linger and
continue to disrupt their bedtime routine and sleeping habits. There are many ways that parents can help
their child to overcome a fear of the dark.
Establish a bedtime routine that your child finds relaxing
and enjoyable.
Put a nightlight in your child’s room, or let some light
from the hallway.
Make sure their television viewing habits and reading
materials are appropriate to their age and avoid content that can be scary to
them.
Look around their room at night and try to see things from
their perspective; is there something in particular that is causing them fear?
Make sure your child has plenty of physical activity during
the day to reduce stress and to encourage physical tiredness.
Your child may want a special friend to cuddle with that
makes them feel safe. Signature Little
Ones has a lovely selection of plush toys to comfort you child in their time of
need or to even share a cup of tea with!