Monsters Under the Bed: Part 1 of Understanding Kid Fears
June 6, 2018
It seems it never fails: After an exhausting day at work, you are getting your child ready for bed and gently tucked in. You lean down to kiss their forehead softly and turn away to close the bedroom door. On your way out, you turn off their light. Suddenly, there is uncontrollable sobbing. You stand in the doorway debating whether or not to go back inside and comfort your child or simply close the door and let them cry it out.
What are they thinking? Maybe they're worried because they can't see what's out there and they feel unprotected in the dark. Most children are afraid of the dark on some level – it is a very common fear of the unknown. To combat this fear, try teaching your child how to turn on lights around the house, and add a night-light to their bedroom. Allow your children to control the amount of light they have on when they go to sleep and gradually decrease it over time. Help your child understand darkness by going on a night walk together and discussing all the new and interesting things you can see when it's dark.
