Help Your Child Conquer A Fear of Monsters
All parents obviously realize there are no such things as imaginary monsters hiding under the bed or dwelling in the bedroom closet, there is no amount of reasoning or conversation that can convince a scared little one that monsters do not exist. While a dread of fictional creatures may seem insignificant to parents, it can bring real tension for a kid and disrupt his or her sleep and well-being during the day. Among the numerous sleep issues young children and parents work through together at night is an irrational fear of scary creatures.
One viewpoint states that moms and dads shouldn’t give in to a kid’s fantasy and should instead work to assure the kid that monsters don’t exist. Although this strategy may work for older kids who have some experience with cognitive reasoning, it will be much more challenging for less mature kids to understand. Children between the ages of 4 to 7 are attentive enough to realize there are things in the world that are quite scary, but their ability to identify which are totally real and which are fabricated has not yet fully evolved. These are the two ways of thinking when it comes to working with young children and their fear of imaginary creatures.
If you minimize your child’s concerns then you are basically saying their feelings really don’t matter. Continuously suggesting to a child that his or her concerns are unfounded can really undercut your kid’s self-confidence. Likewise, if you begin to tell your youngster that fictional things do no exist then he or she may start to question other tenants of childhood such as Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny.
Whatever method you use, it is crucial that treat your son’s or daughter’s concern seriously and not just ignore it. Assure your son or daughter that you will not permit any frightening monsters to live in your house or hurt your child in in any manner. One strategy that has worked for numerous parents is making use of some sort of imaginary device to scare away the imaginary creatures. Some adults use monster spray, other use imaginary secret spells and even others have used night lights that are developed to scare away those imaginary critters. If your son or daughter is especially smart you may want to try a more high-tech solution for your iPhone or iPod Touch with an inexpensive app designed to alleviate monster fears.
However you work with your kid to get over his or her unreasonable fear of imaginary monsters, don’t forget that even though it seems trivial to you it is a very genuine dilemma for your child. Young children who are all of a sudden scared of imaginary critters may be spending too much time watching inappropriate television programs, playing video games that are intended for an older audience or they may have a tense situation at home or with a family member. It is crucial for parents and guardians to talk with their kids to try to figure out the issue. Unexpected behavioral issues, mood swings and explosive tempers could all be the signs of a lack of sleep caused by worry and dread. It’s your duty as a parent or guardian to help your child to conquer those anxieties and get a good night’s sleep.
Looking for more great iPhone apps to help you be a good parent? The Easter Nice or Naughty scanner can entertain your children and remind them to be great if they want any candy or toys in their Easter basket this year!
