Don’t ignore your children’s fears
Oct 16, 2005
PARENTS should take their children’s fears seriously and comfort them in situations that frighten them, according to Germany’s association for paediatricians.
PARENTS should take their children’s fears seriously and comfort them in situations that frighten them, according to Germany’s association for paediatricians.
“Hold your children so that they feel secure. Physical contact is calming,†advises Gunhild Kilian-Kornell, spokeswoman for the Munich-based organisation.
It is important to allow children a chance to talk about their fears and discuss things that cause the fears. Parents should also monitor whether their children avoid certain situations or cling tightly to them when they are scared.
“Fear could be the reason behind disruptive sleep, stomachaches and headaches,†said Kilian-Kornell.
Fear arises with everything unknown and small children have a lot to discover and learn. As they grow older, new and different things can spark their fears. In the first year, separation and the fear of loss are the most common fears among children.
In the second year, they typically fear objects and in about the third year, children often have a fear of nasty people, criminals or ghosts. When they are older, they sometimes develop a fear of school.
Children who have not been to kindergarten can be overcome by fear of the unknown. They also can be afraid of getting bad grades or having strict teachers.
Guardian
“Hold your children so that they feel secure. Physical contact is calming,†advises Gunhild Kilian-Kornell, spokeswoman for the Munich-based organisation.
It is important to allow children a chance to talk about their fears and discuss things that cause the fears. Parents should also monitor whether their children avoid certain situations or cling tightly to them when they are scared.
“Fear could be the reason behind disruptive sleep, stomachaches and headaches,†said Kilian-Kornell.
Fear arises with everything unknown and small children have a lot to discover and learn. As they grow older, new and different things can spark their fears. In the first year, separation and the fear of loss are the most common fears among children.
In the second year, they typically fear objects and in about the third year, children often have a fear of nasty people, criminals or ghosts. When they are older, they sometimes develop a fear of school.
Children who have not been to kindergarten can be overcome by fear of the unknown. They also can be afraid of getting bad grades or having strict teachers.
Guardian