Kids get scared of a lot of things. With their wild imaginations, it’s easy to understand how a simple breeze can sound like a howling wolf, or a shadow can seem like a scary ghost.
It’s okay to be scared
Being afraid is totally fine, and it’s normal behavior. Even adults can sometimes get spooked of the most mundane things, or even get scared of the simplest things.
Being anxious is also normal behavior. Anxiety is defined as “apprehension without apparent cause,” and kids can sometimes experience this. It usually happens when someone feels scared about something, but in reality, there’s no threat to a person’s health or well-being
However, too much fear and/or anxiety can be unhealthy, and can also be detrimental to your child’s well-being.
How can we help them overcome their fears?
Because of fear, your child may feel helpless and powerless against certain situations. But sometimes, all it takes for them to overcome their fears would be your support, and for them to confront whatever’s making them feel scared.
A good way to help your child overcome their fears would be to share your own experiences. Showing them that they can overcome their fears would help boost their confidence, and make them feel that there’s nothing to be scared about.
If your child’s feeling anxious about something, such as going to school, then try and talk to them and ask why they have those feelings. Sometimes they might be scared of their teacher, or afraid that a lesson is too hard. In those cases, you need to help reassure your child and explain to them that there’s nothing to worry about.
On the other hand, there might be cases wherein your child is afraid to go to school because they are being bullied. In those cases, it’s best to talk to your child’s teacher, or have a discussion with the bully’s parents, so that you can figure out what you can do to help your child.
Laugh it off
Sometimes, just laughing about their fears can make them feel better. There might be moments where your child might be afraid of something in their room, thinking it’s a ghost, only for them to find out that it’s just some clothes on a hanger. In cases like these, you can show your child that there’s nothing to be afraid of, and make the entire ordeal into a funny memory.
Laughter helps alleviate feelings of stress, anxiety, and fear. So if your child feels scared, you can try to make them laugh to help them feel less stressed about the entire situation.
Sources: handinhandparenting.org, kidshealth.org
READ: Is your child extremely shy and afraid to speak up? This is the reason why
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