It is normal for young children to be afraid of the darkness and refuse to go to bed in the evenings. Most children experience fear of darkness at night at some point during childhood. If, however, the fear of darkness and going to bed frequently prevent the little one from falling asleep, then consider the following recommendations given below.
In this article, we will be telling you how you can help your child to over the fear of darkness.
Why is the child afraid?
Before treating the fear of darkness, we should try to understand what are the reasons behind the fear? Do not prevent your child from talking about this topic. Try to understand his reasons and listen to them very seriously. Rather than laughing at his trouble, you need to pay attention to the reality of his problem. Maybe it’s a joke for you, but you must not make him feel so.
For example, if your child says that there is a ghost in the darkness, then you are not supposed to stimulate his fear and must not use his fear for your own sake. These actions can make children believe in the imagined object.
Let us now talk about the solution to this problem.
1To Get Trust
When your child starts to be scared of darkness, it is very important to calm him down in such a situation. Make every effort for this. Just saying that there is no need to fear, it will not be enough. You have to listen to the reason for fear of the child and make it calm down properly. You have to make the child feel that she is completely safe.
2Make Routine
First, make a routine for your child. Make such a routine, to make the baby’s day comfortable and full of fun. The child will follow the routine, and at the end of the day, he will be tired and sleepy.
3Reinsurance
It is very important to calm your baby if he is afraid. Make every effort for this. Just saying that there is no need to fear, is not going to be enough. You have to listen to the reasons and make him calm down properly. You have to make the child feel that she is completely safe.
4Help Him Overcome His Fear
Talk about the ways in which you can eliminate the fear of darkness from your child’s mind. Ask him to become “brave” and think positively. Give him a personal example of how you were ever afraid of the darkness, and later how did you overcome your fear. Tell him such stories, in which the characters were afraid of the darkness and later they courageously conquered this fear on their own.
5Play in The Dark
This is a very good solution. It is actually a game. In this game, you need a completely darkened room and a torch is given to the child.
For example, you can use a torch, and you can organize a treasure hunt when the room is dark. For his help, you can use objects that shine in the dark. Encourage the child to go to that room alone and find that treasure and solutions to master his fears.
6The Subject of Safety
Let your baby sleep with an object he feels attached to. It can help him relax and sleep well. It can be a plush toy or a special plum.
7Table Lamp
No matter what the child is afraid of, a weak light can help. It is advisable to leave a lamp lit in the child’s room, as long as it does not prevent him from falling asleep. Another thing you can do is leave the door open to the bedroom so that the child does not feel isolated from the rest of the family.
Do not let your child watch TV, scary stories and movies because they can amplify the fear of darkness. Never expose your child to these programs at least before 30 to 60 minutes of bedtime.
8Relaxation Techniques
Teach your child how to relax before bedtime. For example, tell them to imagine a beautiful scene. This will help him think about something else when he’s sleeping and distracting himself from the negative thoughts about darkness.
9Recommend the Child To Stay in Bed
You should create such an environment around him that he feels safe. If your child is very afraid of sleeping at the beginning, then you can stay with him in the room until he falls asleep, but do not make a habit of doing so because he can become addicted to your presence, which will not help him overcome his fear of darkness.
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Some children become very timid because their parents are overprotective. In this case, you need to change the strategy. Tell him you’re proud of him that he was brave and he fell asleep alone. Create a reward system and give them small prizes when they defeat their fear and manage to fall asleep with the light off.
Even after all these measures, if your child’s fear of darkness persist for a long time, or worsens, then you should immediately see a doctor who can recommend a psychologist. Do keep in mind that rectifying this problem is very important.