Babies
are fearless but when they grow up, fear creeps in their minds. They fear different
things and sometimes their fears are irrational. The feeling of fear arises due
to their imagination and curiosity. Read here to know about some different
types of fears.

It has been observed that these fears develop more often in children for whom feeding and toilet training have been contentious issues, or in those who have overprotective parents or who have been regularly warned or cautioned against doing certain things. On the other hand, some children are just born sensitive.

Fear of the dark is one of the most common
childhood fears. This is also a fear that adults can most easily identify with.
The average adult is not as confident and even a little shaky in the dark. The
lack of the ability to see clearly acts as a spur to the imagination leading
most people to imagine that somebody is creeping up on them. If your child is
scared of the dark you can indulge her by leaving her bedroom door open or
leaving a night light on. Keep her well occupied with games and other
activities throughout the day so that she has no time to brood on her fears. In
time, she will realize that there is nothing to fear.




A positive approach
Always keep in mind that while you may not understand the child's fear, it is very real to her. Ridiculing the fear or chastising your child for being a coward is not going to make the situation any better. Encourage her to talk about her fear. You must instill confidence in her by assuring her that nothing bad is going to happen and that you are right by her side. While it is important to be sympathetic, do not overdo it. Your child may get the message that her fears are justified.

Babies are
unpredictable. In the early days of their lives they are like fearless,
intrepid explorers. They go boldly into the great unknown. Then overnight these
brave adventurers become scared of their own shadows. They develop the most
irrational fears. They are scared of the most innocuous things. Sometimes you
can't help but feel impatient when you see your child screaming hysterically at
the sight of a dog or at the sound of the fire engine alarm. The whole thing
seems inexplicable.
You have to understand
that your child's early fearlessness stems from the fact that ignorance is
bliss. What they don't know can't hurt them. This is why the same child that
cheerfully put her hand between the jaws of a dog, will later run away
screaming at the sight of a barking dog. Somewhere along the way she has learnt
that dogs can bite. As the child grows older, her imagination and curiosity
develop side by side. She learns the potential dangers of certain actions and
objects and the reasons why it is so. As she makes these connections, her
awareness makes her cautious and sometimes frightened.
It has been observed that these fears develop more often in children for whom feeding and toilet training have been contentious issues, or in those who have overprotective parents or who have been regularly warned or cautioned against doing certain things. On the other hand, some children are just born sensitive.
Fear of the dark
Fear of death
Some children are scared of death and dying.
They cannot understand what happens to their pets or people who die. This is
not surprising as adults themselves are confused by death. Adults themselves
find it difficult to comprehend the finality of it all and its relation to
life. So how do you explain it to a child? Some parents choose to explain death
in religious terms. They tell their child that the deceased has gone up to God
in heaven. On the other hand, parents can just deal with death by saying that
the person was old, weak and too tired to go on living. It is important that
parents maintain a casual air and reassure their child that they will be around
for years and years to come.
Fear at the movies
Some parents think that their child would find a
trip to the movies a fascinating experience. Picking out an appropriate
animated feature, they sally forth with the child. Much to their astonishment,
the child begins to wail when the wicked witch appears in the first five
minutes and demands to be taken home. Parents must remember that children below
the age of seven often find it difficult to separate fiction and reality
because of their overactive imaginations. Thus, movies may not be a good idea
for children in this age group. A positive approach
Always keep in mind that while you may not understand the child's fear, it is very real to her. Ridiculing the fear or chastising your child for being a coward is not going to make the situation any better. Encourage her to talk about her fear. You must instill confidence in her by assuring her that nothing bad is going to happen and that you are right by her side. While it is important to be sympathetic, do not overdo it. Your child may get the message that her fears are justified.
Comments
Post a Comment