What are your kids afraid of? Man-eating monsters in the closet? Noisy flashy thunderstorms? Creepy long-legged spiders? Fears are a normal part of growing up, but kids typically grow out of them and become perfectly well adjusted adults.
So why are kids afraid of certain things? It usually starts around the age of three when young imaginations start to soar. This is also the time when impressions from books, movies and TV shows can have a significant impact. One thing moms and dads can do to help their children cope with their fears and phobias are to introduce them to a non-threatening version of the thing that they're afraid of. If your son is afraid of dogs, find a cuddly toy K-9 he can play with, so he gets used to the idea that dogs can be gentle and not very scary after all.
Managing imaginary monsters is another important task. It's best to reasonably explain to your children that monsters don't exist. But when all else fails, there's a comical but effective approach that we use at our home. It's called monster repellant. A spray bottle filled with tap water for you and me. It can be liberally applied to your son's bedroom whenever he's afraid a furry paw may reach out and grab him while he's asleep. A visit to the bookstore or library may help too.
There are dozens of well written informative books that can help you help your children deal with their fears. And another piece of advice, if your child ever becomes fixated on a fear or phobia for more than six months, it's a good idea to seek professional help. Talk to your pediatrician or your family doctor.
Source : healtcorner
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