How to Calm a Child Who's Afraid of the Dark
As children mature, they may develop fears they didn't experience when they were younger. The good news is that imagination is developing. The bad news is that with that imagination comes worry about what could be under the bed, in the closet or just outside the window. Parents can teach children to protect themselves from fear of the dark.
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Things You'll Need
- Flashlight
- Black construction paper
- Pin or pencil to poke holes in the paper
- Musical CDs
- Clear plastic lid, sheet protector, or similar clear plastic
- Permanent markers to draw on the plastic
Instructions
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Choose a pleasant evening with a clear sky to sit with the child on the porch or lie on a blanket in the yard and watch the night fall in a relaxed way. Don't turn on or carry any lights; just let it get dark. Talk about the changes you observe. Point out that the things all around the house in the nighttime are the same ones that were there during the day.
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On another night, stay in the child's room with him as darkness falls. Don't turn on any lights; let it get dark while you relax together. Play games to create a sense of ownership of the room at night: "Can you still see your chair?" If the child is anxious when it's time for you to go, plug in a night light or leave on the hall light without belittling or mocking his fear.
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Give the child a flashlight that he can keep by his bed, and play games to help him learn to use the flashlight to protect himself from fears. Play a show-me game: "Show me something that's red." Poke holes in the shape of the Big Dipper or another constellation into a piece of black construction paper, and shine the light through to make the constellations on the ceiling. Make designs on plastic lids or sheet protectors, and shine the images onto the wall.
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Teach the child to use music as a tool to comfort himself. Take time together to select bedtime music that is soothing and cheerful, not just music that he likes, and teach him to turn it on in the dark if he wants to.
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Tips & Warnings
No technique will help a child feel safe at night if he hears screams coming from a TV show others are watching in another room or the sound of his parents arguing.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit père et fils image by iMAGINE from Fotolia.com
