How to Deal With Fear in Small Children
Children commonly have fears, and the reactions of parents or guardians can have an affect on those fears. Small children's fears may depend upon their age. Fear of falling is common for 1-year-olds while 2-year-olds may fear the dark. Fears usually become more concrete as the child ages. Bedtime fears and fear of rejection are the most common fears among children. According to North Dakota State University, some fears may go away over time as children mature, while others may persist into adulthood (Reference 1).
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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How to Deal With Fear in Small Children
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1
Maintain composure when dealing with a child who is exhibiting what may be a seemingly irrational fear. While a tired and frustrated, albeit well-intentioned, parent's first impulse may be to discipline a child who is becoming emotionally upset for what looks like no real reason, avoid the impulse. Remember that fear is a natural part of human development. Since children develop fears as a result of things they have negative memories of, as indicated by North Dakota State University, becoming upset may only make them fearful of trying to talk about the fear with a parent or guardian (Reference 1).
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2
Comfort your child. Remember that children who are younger than age 5 are not yet intellectually capable of thinking about and processing their emotions. If a child who is 5 or older is exhibiting fear, talking it out is easier than with a younger child. Children develop the capacity to overcome fears of their own mental will when they are around age 5 or older. (Reference 1).
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Respect your child. Deal with children younger than 5 years old in a supportive and patient manner, since they are essentially creatures of emotion when it comes to fear. Children may overcome one fear naturally, like the monster under the bed, and replace it with another, like being kidnapped by a stranger. For children under 5, death is considered just a separation, but around age 5, death takes on more meaning. If children 5 or older are afraid of death as a result of a loved one, be honest and direct with them. Saying the word "death" is perfectly fine (Reference 1). For instance, "The puppy died because he was hit by a car."
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4
Understand your child's personality traits and pay attention to patterns. Remember that some fears may persist beyond age 5 and into maturity. Adolescents and adults may still be afraid of doctors, clowns, darkness, public speaking, and other fears commonly associated with youth. Important to understanding this is the fact that children develop fears when they are emotionally vulnerable to them. So a fear of death, for instance, may be developed as a result of watching a puppy get hit by a car. Children's fears also develop as a result of a complex interaction between the situations they encounter in their lives, the environments they are raised in, and their individual personalities. Identifying triggers for fears might help curb them as children mature (Reference 1).
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Tips & Warnings
If you feel that your child's fear is turning into a phobia, an exaggerated irrational fear, that is negatively affecting your child's development, then seek advice from a medical professional such as a pediatrician or child psychologist.
