How to Cure Fear in Children

Address your child's fears rather than ignoring them.

Learning to deal with fear is an important and natural part of growing up. Although it is an unpleasant feeling to be fearful or anxious, children who learn how to deal with these feelings will be more prepared to face challenging situations and experiences in their adult life. Babies and children aged 10 to 18 months commonly experience separation anxiety, and children ages four through six experience fears of things that are not real, such as ghosts or monsters. When a child reaches 7 years of age, this is when he may start to develop fear based on real circumstances. As a parent, it is important to evaluate and understand your child's fear so you can help him learn how to deal with it.

Instructions

1. Identify what makes your child fearful. In order to understand how you can help alleviate your child's fear, you need to know what it is that is upsetting him. For example, if he thinks there is a monster under the bed, you can alleviate his fear by looking under the bed and disproving your child's fears.

2. Look for the warning signs that your child is becoming fearful and anxious. Signs include being physically clingy, sweaty hands, nausea, crying, problems sleeping and stomachaches. When your child is exhibiting these symptoms, keep calm to avoid upsetting your child further and increasing his anxiety. Fear is normal and even if the fears seem irrational to you, for your child they are very real.

3. Discuss the fear with your child if he is old enough to understand. There are many ways you can approach the subject of fear with your child, such as reading books that pertain to fear. Your child trusts you, and your assurance that he should not be afraid will alleviate some of his fears. Like your own fears, addressing them and facing them head on can help resolve them.

4. Seek out the help of a psychiatrist our child counselor if the fear has grown out of proportion. Fears should not limit the quality of our life. If your child's fear is preventing him from living a happy, normal, childhood and there is nothing you can do to alleviate the symptoms, it is time to contact a specialist. Your child might need the help of a counselor to understand and work through his fears.

References

• Kids Health: Anxiety Fears and Phobias