How To Help A Child Overcome Their Fear Of The Dark

Fear of the dark is very common among children. The good news is that they usually outgrow it. Make sure you do not belittle your child about their fear of the dark. Don’t put them down with phrases like “Quit being a baby”, “Big boys (or girls)” are not afraid”, “Don’t be silly”, or “Don’t be scared”. Avoid teasing them about their fear. Be honest with them and tell them that everyone is afraid of something. They may be surprised that you are also afraid of something. That will make them feel better about their fear.

You don’t want to ignore your child’s fear of the dark, but you also don’t want to get too involved in it either. If you do, your child might play up this fear just to get your attention. You need to make sure that they know that it’s all right to be afraid; and that they should share their fears and ask for help when they need it.

Don’t make them stay in a dark room by themselves. Give them a flashlight so they can turn it on if they need to. Sometimes just knowing they have the light is enough to stop the fear. It doesn’t hurt to leave a night light on or have a lamp with a dimmer switch. It won’t interfere with their sleep. Reassure them that everything will be okay and that you are just down the hall.

It helps to discuss the fear with your child. Ask them what they are feeling when they are alone in the dark. If it is various sounds they are hearing in the house, you can talk about what the different sounds are (such as the furnace coming on).

Closely monitor the shows your child watches. Don’t let your child watch any scary television shows or movies. They will intensify their night time fears.

You can also play calming music in their room when they go to bed.  This relaxes them and also masks some of the noises of the house.

Just make sure they know that you are there to help them overcome this fear of the dark. They most likely will outgrow it.

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