If your kids are afraid of the dark and you want to calm their fears, read this. Do you ever wonder why you can’t leave your kids in the dark for just 2 seconds and not come back to meet them calling for mommy at the top of their voice. And if you try to send them on an errand in the dark, forget it, no amount of beating will make them go.
Most kids have a fear of the unknown when they are in the dark even though they’ve not actually seen a monster, their imaginative mind conjure it up.
At some point in our lives, we are afraid. Fear is normal, and a necessary emotion which sends us the signal to be careful. It is the feeling of fear that puts us on high alert.
When kids are playing, they play creepy, and sometimes they watch some movies that gets lodged in their subconscious and the images come alive in the dark.
Also, parents have the habit of scaring children with Ojuju and things like that, with time your children will start believing those things really exist, then when they are in the dark, they’ll imagine those things hurting them.
Our brains are made to use the little information we have to connect dots and create a narrative to explain things that we really don’t understand. Most movie on TV provide content in such a way that’ll shock and surprise the viewers. Meanwhile, when kids are exposed to such media, they might be anxious and their sense of dread will make them feel insecure when they are in the dark.
When your child express a fear of the dark when it’s time to sleep, this is the best time to help them work on that fear, with time, their fear of the dark will collapse.
What to do;
Make it known to them that they are safe. Whisper into their ears “you’re safe baby, mummy will not let anything harm you” When children feel unsafe, they’ll have a huge fear of the dark.
- Ask questions about why they are scared. While holding your child, tell them they are safe but you need to know why they are scared.
- Help them take control, tell your child to say empowering words that shows they aren’t scared of the monster in the dark. The easier way is to tell them there’s no monster but since they won’t believe that. Make them, send the monster away “Go away monster/ojuju! And don’t come back until I say so”
- Teach your child how to pray and send the monsters into the lake of fire, start first “Go monster, burn in hell” ….. Something to assure your child.
- Feed them before sending them to sleep, sugary foods, cheese and diary products are perfect.
- Watch what your kids watch. Do not let them watch scary movies and don’t let them see sad news.
- Finally, encourage your child to talk about their fears, and look for ways to eliminate the fear.
- Create a bedtime ritual. A warm or cold bath, a sweet bedtime story, and a good night kiss will soothe your little one to sleep.
Mamalette! How do you banish fear of the dark from your child? Share your experience with us! Post your comments below.
