How to Calm Your Child's Fears of the Dark
Fear of the dark is an extremely common fear in children.
Studies have shown that you sleep better in the dark, because it
allows your senses to completely turn off. It is important for
children to be able to feel comfortable enough in the dark to
sleep.
Steps
- Get a nightlight for your child's bedroom. Nightlights give
just enough light, helping your child feel more relaxed.
- Ask your child what they think and feel when it's dark.
Reassure their fears and worries.
- Show your child that their room is exactly the same in the dark
as it is when lit, by sitting on their bed with them and turning
the light on and off.
- Buy a dimmer switch. Each night, have the light a little
dimmer, until it is almost dark. Your child will grow more
confident and eventually be able to turn off the light.
- Try leaving the hall light on and the door open, so there is
still light coming into the room. After your child falls asleep you
can turn the light off.
- Turn the light off and sit with your child in the dark. Stay
with them until their eyes adjust to the dark and they realise that
they can still see things in the dark.
- Don't let your child play on the computer or watch TV less than
an hour before they go to sleep.
Tips
- Leave a phone or cot radio by their bed so if they get scared
they can phone you.
- Buy them a toy in the form of a nocturnal animal, such as a
cat, owl or bat. If they have a "friend who can see in the dark"
and look out for them, their fears should disappear.
- Encourage your child to talk about or draw pictures of anything
they think they can see in the dark. Communication is essential to
banish fears.
- Read "The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark" by Jill Tomlinson
(available from the Amazon link at the bottom of this page)
together with your child. It's a cute story about a young owl
overcoming his fear of the dark by hearing the opinions of people
he meets, such as a little girl who reminds him that dark is
necessary for Santa Clause to come.
Warnings
- As tempting as it is, don't tell them that mummy and daddy are
there to scare off any monsters in the dark, or they'll come
running to you everytime they get scared. Children have to learn to
deal with their fear of the dark in their own time, in their own
way. Providing mum and dad as a scapegoat often doesn't work.
- Some children can get quite distressed by movies you may find
placid, such as Jurassic Park. Be sure to talk to your child after
watching films together, especially if you've watched them with the
lights out, or in the run up to bedtime.
Sources and Citations
