Fear is something that absolutely all people face. This feeling is embedded in our psyche as a protective survival mechanism.
Everyone experiences fear, and that's normal. As with any issue, you just need to feel the line between normal and pathological.
At each age interval, children go through certain types of fears. The most striking example at the age of 6 months to 3 years is the fear of losing their mother or a significant adult.
Many mothers know this fear very well, after their children have adapted to kindergarten, for example. The reason for this fear is simple and understandable. Without the care of the mother or another significant adult, the child will not survive.
And from here we understand that this fear is normal. There is no need to treat it, to eradicate it, you just need to help to go through it gently, to help the child to get this experience. These are the stages of mental development.
The intensity of manifestation of different fears is individual for all children. But even fears that are not very intense cannot be denied.
It is also undesirable to deceive the child, to substitute concepts, even if the baby is still too small and, in your opinion, is not ready to hear it. The truth can be presented in a playful way, softly, using children's imagination and fairy-tale characters.
The following phrases are prohibited: "it's nothing to worry about", "it will pass", "it's just you", "you're like a coward", "stop being afraid!" They are useless and only aggravate the fear and undermine the trusting relationship with the parent.
Below we will look at basic methods that help a child overcome fear at different age periods.
Acknowledging fear and talking about the child's feelings and emotions
It is very important to say out loud to the baby: "You are afraid now!", "It is normal to feel afraid." Verbal confirmation of the emotions experienced should be accompanied by support and words of love: "I am here for you", "We will overcome this fear together." Thanks to this approach, the child calms down and also learns to distinguish emotions and feelings, identify them and manage them. In other words, emotional intelligence develops.
Effective time with your child
This is a time of quality play with the child in what he wants. The child chooses the activity himself. It can be either 15 or 30 minutes of your time, depending on the possibility.
During this period, the parent spends time exclusively with the child, without being distracted by the phone, calls, work or anything else, brothers or sisters should not interfere. Ideally, each parent spends effective time with the child separately in the morning and evening.
This method, if used regularly, will have a beneficial effect on everything – trusting relationships with parents, the child’s psycho-emotional development, coping with fears, the baby’s calmness and confidence, the development of his nervous system, and emotional stability.
Methods in a game form
Fears can be played out in games with toys, attracting fairy-tale characters, with their help to drive out fear. You can use the method of drawing fear on paper, modeling from plasticine.
Tactile contact
This is especially relevant at a younger age, from birth to 7 years. But even at an older age, children really need sincere hugs from their parents and loved ones.
These methods are very universal, they can be used not only when any fears appear in your child, but also on an ongoing basis in the process of communication and education. They will help to reach a new level of positive and deep relationships with your children.
