Has your child developed a fear of the dark? I have decided to write about this subject as my little girl Lila, who has just turned 2 years, has recently developed a fear of the dark. After spending 7 weeks in the UK over the summer, where it was light when she went to bed, to now being in a pitch black room (thanks to my thick curtains) seems to have brought on this phase a little earlier than expected! A fear of the dark can often start at around the age of 2 or 3 years, and is usually a result of the child’s imagination growing rapidly and being exposed to new experiences in their environment such as; books, television and watching older children play. Moving house, a new baby in the family, trauma or change of routine can also be common factors. In most cases, a fear of the dark can come and go during the toddler years whereas for some children it can continue up until they are 6 or 7 years old. This is why it is very important to be confident and consistent in the way that you to handle the situation as and when it arises. Ways you can help your child with their fears and have a peaceful sleep! 1.Try to understand your child’s new fear; think back to when you were little and how you felt and start from there. Accept this is a part of growing up and learning the difference between reality and fantasy. 2.Set a good bedtime routine; this is always important for children, but even more so if your child becomes is anxious at bedtime. A consistent routine ensures that they will understand what is coming next and what is expected of them. Enjoy cuddles and stories with a low light on to let their eyes get used to the dark. 3.Leave a hall/bathroom light on or a nightlight in the bedroom. There are many great products, such as the ‘Gro egg’ or the ‘Cloud B turtle nightlight’ and many more if you look online. 4.Try not to make a fuss of the fear and over talk it to toddlers as they will most likely get confused and more anxious. Say good night and put on the nightlight and say something along the lines of “this light will help you to see in the dark”. Often saying the words ‘scared’ or ‘frightened’ can actually make the issue worse, so keep it simple and the more confidence you show, the more they will relax. You can then turn off the light when you go to bed and when they are in a deep sleep. 5.Try not to leave the light on all night; children need the dark to release the sleep hormone Melatonin. This hormone promotes growth, a strong immune system, brain function, collagen repair for the skin and bones. Turn off the light when you go to bed or put on a lower light should your child needs it on throughout the night. 6.If the problem persists; if the child wakes in the night crying, soothe and hold them until they have calmed down, give a drink of water and wait for them to realize everything is fine. If you ignore the crying it is likely that the child will become more anxious. On the other hand, you also need to be careful that this is not becoming a habit simply to get ‘night time cuddles’. So my advice would be to keep it short, limited conversation and as soon as the tears stop then it is back to bed. 7.For older toddlers and children, giving them some control over the light can often help; you can let them have a small torch to help them see if they wake up or a lamp they can switch on themselves. 8.Make sure your child is only reading or watching age appropriate content; make sure you put away any films or books that have frightening characters for when they are a little bigger and stick to gentle calming stories for the time being. Children are all too often being made to grow up too fast and over stimulation can have an adverse effect on their well-being. 9.For older children, it is important to talk through their fears and what is worrying them; try and find a way that helps your child feel in control and secure. If they are scared of shadows or intruders, then show them your home security such as the door locks or alarm system and explain that these will make sure that they are safe, or if it is ‘monsters in the room’ then I have found that sprinkling ‘fairy dust’ around the room before bedtime often works! A fear of the dark can happen at any time during a child’s development, so be prepared and remember that each child will have a different way of dealing with it. For the last two nights when Lila has got upset, as I close her bedroom door at bedtime, she has been happy with me simply putting her bathroom light on and leaving the door ajar, then turning it off when I go to bed. This has quickly diffused the situation without any fuss so hopefully this will work for her!
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 04:40:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015