Facing and Growing With Fears

As your child’s brain and awareness of their world grows, so do their fears. Young children may fear imaginary creatures and bird attacks because they are still not sure what is real. As children grow older, they are better able to separate make-believe from reality, and many earlier fears go away. Fears in childhood are normal, and most early fears are eventually outgrown.

Adults understand why gradually facing fears on purpose can help us overcome them, but young children are less able to understand this. Reason and logic (and even incentives!) are not going to be much help . . . yet. Though we might see small glimpses of bravery in five- and six-year-olds, very young children don’t have the ability to override strong fears. They don’t care about why it’s important to face their fears, or how they will benefit in the long run—they just want out now.

So, when your child won’t return to the park after seeing that big dog last week, or is afraid they might get flushed down the toilet, what can you do?

These resources include practical tips and playful strategies to help your child cope with their fears.