How to Help Children at Age Four With Fears of Fire Sirens

Certain fears are hard to trace.

It can be very difficult to figure out where a small child's fear of something comes from. If you have a 4 year old, then odds are your child is afraid of something. Some fears are a natural progression for youths, such as a fear of monsters. However, others more likely come from a deeper psychological issue or from some event that happened early in life. A fear of fire sirens could fall into this category, or your 4 year old could just not prefer loud, scary noises. Either way, there are steps you can take to help your child deal with the fear.

Instructions

1. Be available. When your child hears a fire siren and becomes afraid, the sit with your child. Ask him why he is afraid, and listen carefully. Talk to your child in a soothing, reassuring tone. Never dismiss your child's fear and leave the room, no matter how silly it seems to you.

2. Explain to your 4 year old that there is nothing to be afraid of when a fire siren is heard, but be careful not to dismiss this fear. Fear is natural and your child should not learn that it's wrong to be afraid. Acknowledge the fear while reassuring your child that the siren cannot hurt them.

3. Emphasize that a fire siren is actually helpful. Tell your 4 year old that someone is in trouble somewhere and the fire siren means that people are going to help. Associating the sound with things like a brave fireman, for example, can help your child get over the fear.

4. Stay calm. No matter how panicked or upset your 4 year old gets, you must show that there is nothing to be fear. Remain calm and relaxed and continue speaking in a soothing tone, no matter what.

5. Seek help if your 4 year old's fear gets out of hand. If you can do nothing to calm the fear and if your child continues to become more and more fearful of sirens as time goes on, you might be dealing with a deeper psychological issue or even the development of a phobia. In this case, seek professional assistance from a child psychologist.

References

• Ask Dr. Sears.com: 7 Ways to Help Your Child handle Fear