What to do when your child is afraid of the dark

Babies don’t seem to mind when the lights go out at night , but by the time your child has grown into a toddler they could very well find the dark a little spooky. While early childhood experts tell us being afraid of things that go bump in the night is a normal part of the developments in imagination and to be expected, they also suggest parents learn to curb being afraid of the dark in their children to lessen anxiety and interrupted sleep.

Children can start becoming afraid at night as early as ages two or three when they are old enough to start imagining things but don’t have the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. Remember there are fewer things to occupy young minds at night and a shadow in the dark corner of their bedroom is more likely to become a monster since they can’t reason as well as older children.

So, what can parents do to convince their little ones there isn’t really a monster hiding under the bed?

Tucked in

One suggestion starts well before they get tucked in for the night. It seems television is one of the worst culprits for inadvertently installing a fear of the dark in your children, and they don’t even need to watch what we’d consider a frightening show to set off alarm bells . Parents need to monitor what their children watch since even being left along with an older sibling in front of the screen can mean they are being exposed to material that isn’t appropriate for their age bracket.

Witches and Goblins
Keep in mind even the most well-meaning book or fairytale with what you might think are benign witches and goblins can boomerang around and create havoc in the mind of your child once the lights go out.

Still there’s no need to banish all the televisions to the basement and the children’s books to a high shelf in the living room. Helping your children get over their fear of the dark is quite often just a matter of implementing a few simple remedies.

For example, books are always a great tool for any parent who wants their children to grow up inquisitive and able to express themselves well. All you might need to do is change the kinds of books you read to them before bed and adjust the types of monsters they see on television. They are more than a few excellent children’s books and several movies with friendly monsters in them. Remember too that looking under the beds and closets in your child’s room is a great way to assure them there’s nothing hiding there and even telling any imagined Bogymen they need to leave can be quite reassuring.

Plush animals and Teddy Bears also make great guards to protect overactive imaginations while they are growing out of their fear of the dark and sometimes all that’s needed is a little nightlight to soothe your child’s fears.

Read more info like this at All My Children.
Author: Rob Starr