Train up a child…

A Child’s Fear is Real

It is easy for adults to forget that children may be afraid of many things. Usually each of us is afraid of what we do not understand. Since children have not yet learned many things, they have many things to fear.
There are some legitimate fears, but there are many fears parents can help children overcome.
Since most fears derive from a lack of understanding, one of the best things we can do is help a child understand why or how something is happening. Sometimes just being with a child or planning can help the child overcome a fear. We should make an effort to protect children from unnecessary fears.
Many children are afraid of thunder and lightning. A scientific explanation of what causes them can help. This is a legitimate fear. According to one site on the Internet, lightning is an electrical charge that is about 54,000 degrees F. It heats the air around it and the air expands rapidly. This causes an explosion of air resulting in the sound of thunder. Detailed information can be found on the Internet as well as a map showing where lightning is striking in the U.S. at the time of viewing. Explaining this, and being with a child during a thunderstorm can help a child feel more secure. Planning what to do for safety as a family during a storm will help a child feel more comfortable as well.
If a child is afraid of the dark, adults can walk into a dark room with a child to give comfort and security. Lifting bed covers to prove there is no monster under the bed helps. Night lights are good to have in a child’s room.
Some children are afraid of insects and worms. I remember an occasion when my husband sat with our small daughter on one knee with one arm wrapped around her while holding an earthworm in the other hand to show her it would not hurt her. Sometimes we need to provide proof through illustrations.
It is unfortunate that some adults like to purposely scare children. This is not good. Some children carry scars for a lifetime from being frightened. Adults should find a better way to amuse themselves! At Halloween, extremely scary costumes should be avoided. There are many fun costumes children can wear without having to deal with the scary ones.
It is good if adults can be alert and understanding to know when a child is frightened and do what they can to help a child through the frightening time. What may seem trivial to us may be a big thing to a child. We can’t protect children from all fears, but there are enough fears that come naturally that we certainly don’t have to add to them. Learning to cope with fears is a part of life. When we help our children to do so, we are helping them be more successful as they continue to grow.