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It is common
for kids to have imaginary friends and childhood fears.
It is also common for kids to have imaginary worries in
the form of the boogey man. These worries vary in different
periods and age brackets. These worries are fears that
children develop. All children have this fear.
Normally, at
the age of three, children have developed their imagination,
and this is the kind wherein they imagine themselves in
situations that are not real. Although fear is a normal
part of human development, fear is existent if a person,
especially a child, does not understand that source of
a problem. Much less, understand the possible outcome.
Kids' fears are normally blown out of proportion and in
unbelievable measures. This simply makes a parent laugh
at a kid's fear, which is incorrect.
Being naturally
inquisitive and curious, children often try to understand
things, even if they have been warned not to. Childhood
fears often disappear as they grow older. Soon, kids will
realize what is real and what is not real.
Coping with
Fears
Parents should
not think that it is their responsibility to remove all
fears. The truth is, parents should teach children how
to cope with fears and overcome them. Parents should teach
their children to cope with fear and conquer them, not
make them believe that they have taken away their fears.
1) Don't
Lecture - Listen
It should be
noted here that many parents make a mistake in addressing
their child's fears. Parents oftentimes do not listen.
They just scold and yell. What should be done is that
parents should understand the source of the fear. A child
will only feel confident to an adult if the child feels
that the adult understood his concern or fear. Also, fears
should not be laughed at. Teasing children will just add
insult to injury. Worse, the child will not trust the
adult anymore.
Childhood fears
have the potential to become a phobia if not addressed.
It is always best to consult a child psychiatrist for
diagnosis as early as possible. There are several processes
and therapies available to address a child's fear of things.
One of these is desensitization. This is a process by
which kids are coaxed into imagining their fears and slowly
conquering these fears in the imagination. Some medications
are also available but these are only for severe conditions.
Medication is not really advised if the fear or phobia
can still be addressed through therapy.
Another thing
that a parent can do is to reassure the child that nothing
can go wrong. Being sympathetic will also help a lot.
Parents should get their kids' confidence in them so the
children will confide. Without mutual trust, kids are
not likely to express their fears to their parents.
2) Explore
The Unknown
It was mentioned
earlier that the source of fear is lack of understanding.
The only way to combat this is education. Education brings
forth information and will then dissolve irrational fears.
One does not have to be formally educated about other
things that cause fear. These are things that even parents
can explain carefully.
3) Battle
Your Own Fears
Children are
highly influenced at home by parents. If parents show
fear, it is more likely that the kids will also show fear.
As a parent, you should overcome your fears first so the
child will not observe these fears from you.
4) Do Not
Induce Fear Through the Bogeyman
Parents often
use monsters as a scheme to make children behave. This
is not right because kids are already afraid of their
own imagined creatures. It is also strongly advised that
kids do not watch monster movies. Children do not understand
that these movies are just for entertainment purposes.
To them, these monsters are real.
5) Do Not
be Overprotective
The downside
of being careful is being overprotective. Let your child
experiment and imagine because this is a healthy process.
If you let your kids be under your shelter all the time,
there is a great possibility that the child will grow
up clingy and very dependent. Being overprotective gives
the child an idea that the world is a very dangerous place
and that there is no safety other than by your side.
Childhood fears
are common as a human being develops. As the child grows
up, these fears disappear.
6) Encourage
Games
Children should
enjoy playing to avoid developing wild imagination. Being
alone induces fear and imagining. If children are engaged
in games, they can banish unhealthy imagination.
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