Battling a Fear of the Dark

It is something that every human being has to confront sometime in his or her life; the fear of the dark. Ironically, when toddlers are very young this does not seem to be a problem. Nevertheless, once their little imaginations get going, it is perhaps an innate reaction to be afraid of the unknown.

When discussing this issue, keep the following things in mind:

• There is absolutely nothing wrong with a toddler being afraid of the dark. When you talk to your child, remember to not make them feel silly.
• If your child must have a night-light, there are many cheap and affordable ones that can be purchased. Many come in different shapes and sizes or with their favorite cartoon characters on them.
• Ask them exactly what they are afraid of in the dark. Is it a story they were told or an image in a television show or something else? If you can pinpoint what it is then you can be closer to tackling the problem itself.
• As said above, take their fear seriously, but also do not cross the line into coddling them too much; that can be just as problematic. Allowing your child to sleep with you every now and then is perfectly acceptable, but do not allow it to become a crutch to overcoming their fear.
• Try going into your child's room with them when it is dark and observing it from their perspective. Sometimes, a pair of jeans slung over a chair or a doll in the corner can form a frightening image or shadow in the pitch dark. If you see what they see, it can help you rectify the problem.

By Chris Giardino