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Fear of the Dark
Fear of the dark is an issue most, if not all of us have to deal
with as parents, and most, if not all of us, experienced as
children. All children deserve to be comforted through this fear,
eventhough after a long and tiring day one may not have the energy
or patience to deal with what may appear to be a 'petty issue' at
3a.m. in the morning. Fears of the dark seem to affect most
children, being lessened or heightened through stages of development
or experience i.e. the child may fear the wolf from the story
"Little Red Riding Hood", at age three, monsters at age five and
burglars at age eight. Stories, films or television programmes may
all contribute towards these fears, fears which are very real to the
child.
What to do:
Children in this situation, need nurturing support, evenly balanced
with positive assurance, that although he may be frightened, you are
there to protect him. You may find that the child refuses to sleep
with the light off, this needn't pose a problem, provided the child
has his own room that is. Leaving the light on until he is asleep
will often help in overcoming the fear, however should the child
awaken in utter darkness during the night you could face problems. A
nite-lite is always a good idea, as is leaving on a passage light,
or other light that wouldn't disturb the rest of the family.
It is important not to ridicule the child, or allow any other family
members to do so. Just as important, is patience and understanding -
scolding the child will only heighten his fears, and you may now be
faced with the scenario where the child refuses to sleep in his own
bed.
Preventatve tips:
Follow a routine. An overtired child is far more emotional.
Structure your day according to the needs of your child - regularly
leaving her in the care of a baby-sitter, will soon upset her
schedule and cause her to feel less secure.
Invent fun ways in which to slowly introduce the dark - playing
games with a torch or even dining by candlelight.
At a young age, children often cannot distinguish between different
types of fears, therefore it would be vital that parental guidance
be practiced when watching television, and that story-books do not
contain unnecessary violence.
A visit to the library would be in order. Most contain children's
books that deal with this specific problem.
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