Are you still afraid of the dark? If not, you would probably be very astonished at how many adults experience fear of the dark. Fears are a natural stage of the human development and the fear of the dark is the most common also among adults, both male and female.
In the dark, shadows come alive and can change into the tremendous monsters which during daytime we manage to keepconcealed.
But this fear is not born with us and kids do not experience it until after 2 years. At this age they acquire already learned a lot about their environment and are experiencing independency and new abilities with an increasing frequence. At the same time, children are slowly emotionally separating by their mother as a consequent result of their newly conquered independence, but this process can create anxieties which are expressed by the many fears typical of this age.
Children consider the monsters hidden in the dark as real, because they still cannot distinguish imagination from reality and hence we should never underestimate their conduct and reckon it as a mere tantrum or even be very strict forcing them to behave normally thus probably causing the issue to growth and endure for life.
There isn't any magic recipe to help your children overcoming their fears, mostly because every individual has a distinct sensitivity and different reactions to the same situation, so that we cannot make a general process.
Probably the best approach is to tranquillize them, not turning though into overprotective. Then we should analyze what they watch in tv which, even though appropriate for their age, can sometimes create anxiety and nervousness. Analyze also their toys because sometimes plush we consider really cute or funny can disturb them. Moreover, toys' shadows in the dark can be extremely scary!
Never try to tease them because of their anxiety even though simply to minimize the problem, but be positive. Turn on a night light and remain with them a a little after they get into bed, until their eyes get used to the low night light. You can make them really happy singing them a lullaby or reading a short, delicate fairy-tale or a nice story. Leave their bedroom before they fall asleep (if they aren't too afraid this will help them build their personality because with your help they will realize they can cope with their fear...) but leave the night light on the whole night (night lights have a low power consumption) so that they will not be afraid in case they wake up before morning.
» left by Susan Thom(9,120) Susan Thom (190 days 3 hours ago.)
hi Daniela,
this was an interesting article, and one whose information i am aware of, not only in myself, but through raising three kids to adulthood. thanks for sharing,
best regards,
sue thom Respond to this comment
» left by Daniela Colleo(91) (190 days 1 hour ago.)
Hi Sue! Thank you for your comment, it's a very nice welcome! Regards :) Daniela
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