How do you respond to your children 's fears?

Psychologists pay attention to the fact that even young children can suffer from phobias and various types of neurosis, failing to cope with stress and a lot of negative information in the world. However, many of the concerns in children are of a developmental nature. We can 't protect our own babies from some of these fears, but we can support them and minimize fear levels.

What to do and what to avoid when our child is afraid of something and what does not really pose a threat? Of course, we shouldn 't mock a child and his fears or put others in an awkward position. You can 't call him a "coward," make fun of his fears, deny his emotions, saying there 's nothing to fear. The child feels obscure and deprived of support.

As a parent, you must be patient and try to understand your child 's fears and their source. Don 't condemn the baby for how he feels. Fear of a monster under the bed indicates the baby 's normal development. You can 't punish him for his emotions. Absolutely do not joke about the fears of the child, do not scare him, for example, that "grandfather will come and take you," do not be angry with the child. Do not bring the child to the disturbing situation he avoids - shock therapy can bring deplorable results, and the child will become even more afraid. Rather, follow the "little steps" method, gradually introducing the child to what he fears, such as dogs, water, darkness. Don 't make a child afraid or bring up fear of the world in it.

The child models adult behavior. If you 're afraid of spiders or people 's dishonesty, a child can copy your reaction in certain situations. Your attitude to fears and life can help your child. Understand that a child has the right to fear and that your task is to know the causes of fear and to show love, care and support.

Talk to your child about his fears. Control what he reads or watches on TV. Horror films or aggressive cartoons, violent fables or fairy tales are not the best assistant in fighting fears. When a baby is afraid of imaginary creatures, you can deal with his fears through play. Along with the child, you can come up with the ritual of driving the dragon out of bed using a pipe, an Indian dance or a "magic sprayer" that will drive the beast far into the woods. Children love magic. Another strategy could be to equip the baby with a mascot that would protect him from danger.

Such an amulet can be made of cardboard or simply a defender can be a child 's favorite mascot or camera. You can also try to tame the child with his own fears, for example, to say that with a monster you can make friends, you only have to feed him sweets or say a poem. Sometimes fears run, together praying, repeating claims that should strengthen courage in children, for example: "I am brave and I can cope with any situation" or reading a good book.