I have a 6 year old daughter that is afraid of the dark. She tells me that she is afraid of monsters and aliens. At first we really didn't think it was a problem because I assumed all kids go through it but now it's getting worse. We used night lights but that didn't work. Now we leave the bathroom light on and the one to the kitchen. She's at a point where she wants her 2 yr old sister to sit with her in the bathroom while she's doing her business. She acts like this during the day and night! She doesn't want to feed the dogs anymore because we keep the food in the garage and she's afraid to go in there. Any ideas on how to get her to understand that there are no monsters/aliens?
Two of my kids went through
Two of my kids went through this. We left lights on for years. But to me honest the fact that she's acting this way during the day and wants her little sister in the bathroom with her might warrant a call to your pediatrician. He/She might be able to tell you if it's anything to worry about. Did she see or hear something that scared her? A T.V. commercial maybe? Watch a scary movie at a friends house?
Paz
My youngest is 9 and is
My youngest is 9 and is still afraid of the dark. It has lessened over the years, though. Heck, I'm still afraid of the dark! (Don't like to walk through dark hallways/rooms).
3 years ago, she would want her bedroom light on when she went to bed and I turned it off when I went to bed. We've graduated to what we do now, where she has a nightlight on and I turn it off when I go to bed. She still turns on a hallway light during the day, but then one side of our house gets very little light during the day and the kids bathroom is very dark. Could this be the case at your house?
She likes to listen to 'smooth jazz' (95.5) when she goes to bed to, (I also turn that off). She's done better since she started listening to that--it kind of calms her, I think.
She'll outgrow it...however I remember a stint where she was FIERCELY afraid of the dark after relatives let her watch a movie that was actually more scary than I ever let her watch. I have to be careful of that, or the fear intensifies.
Most all kids go through the
Most all kids go through the dark issue and the monster scare. My kids were ok with the dark, then one day were afraid of it again about 7 yrs old. This phase lasted about 2 years with each of my kids.
As for monsters, my 12 year old son has recently been afraid of monsters under his bed. Maybe it was something he saw in a movie or read in a book or his imagination gone crazy. Anyway, the wall of stuffed animals helps and leaving the closet light with a dimmer on gets him through the nights. This too shall pass....
soccermom of a 12 yr old boy and 15 yr old young lady