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How to Help Your Child Recognize & Understand Fear
University Nebraska Lincoln
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05/31/2022
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Tips on helping young children understand fear.
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[00:00:01.100]
Fit and Healthy Kids,
[00:00:02.800]
an early childhood podcast.
[00:00:04.960]
Hello from Nebraska Extension.
[00:00:07.270]
This is LaDonna Werth and Lisa Poppe,
[00:00:09.910]
Extension educators in the field of early childhood.
[00:00:13.980]
We bring the research
[00:00:15.180]
from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to you.
[00:00:20.000]
We all experience fears from time to time.
[00:00:23.150]
Fear is a normal and healthy human emotion.
[00:00:26.110]
However, children and adults
[00:00:28.480]
experience the world differently.
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Lisa, can you tell us about children's fears?
[00:00:34.115]
It is not uncommon for children
[00:00:36.180]
to be afraid of things that don't make sense
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to their parents.
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Separation from parents, monsters under the bed,
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loud sounds and other experiences, which may seem minor
[00:00:46.070]
or silly to adults are quite real to children.
[00:00:49.440]
How can we help children face fears
[00:00:51.980]
in a positive way?
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We need to keep in mind that it is good
[00:00:55.760]
for children to have a healthy sense of caution.
[00:00:58.660]
They should be afraid of running into the street,
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for example.
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However, when a child has too much fear,
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it can interfere with their normal and healthy development.
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When you teach your child to recognize and label fear,
[00:01:11.800]
it helps him to better manage his emotions
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and handle life's challenges.
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Lisa, how can I talk to my children about fears?
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It is important to notice and label
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when your child or others are scared.
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Include the physical features of fear.
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You might say to your child, "You jumped and grabbed my leg
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when you heard that loud sound.
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You were scared."
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It is also important to provide comfort
[00:01:36.849]
and spend quality time together when he is scared.
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If your child is afraid of the dark,
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you can tell a story at bedtime and cuddle in the dark
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before you leave his room.
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This will help him to feel safe.
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How can we use playtime to help children
[00:01:51.450]
with their fears?
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Since children learn through play,
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puppets and toys are great ways to role play situations
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that your child understands.
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For example, "Wow, this dinosaur is shaking.
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He is scared because he is going to the doctor tomorrow."
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Let's help him by telling him what will happen
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at the doctor's office and teach him how to be brave.
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Make sure to also celebrate your child's successes.
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If your child is afraid of dogs,
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you can plan to walk by a house with a safe dog.
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When you have walked by the house, you can say,
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"Wow, you walked right by that doggie.
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You are so brave."
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When we help our children understand fear
[00:02:31.240]
and emotions, what do they gain?
[00:02:34.250]
When you help your child to understand and label
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all of his feelings, including fear,
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sadness and jealousy, you give him more freedom to accept
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and experience the ups and downs of his life,
[00:02:45.910]
which will ultimately reduce challenging behavior.
[00:02:48.860]
So spend time together.
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That will help him to feel cared for and safe.
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With love, practice, and language,
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he will learn that although the feeling
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may be uncomfortable, it will pass.
[00:03:01.470]
Understanding our emotions
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and helping children understand their feelings
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is the key in assisting children
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in reducing challenging behaviors.
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This has been LaDonna and Lisa
[00:03:13.120]
with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
[00:03:15.280]
Until next time, enjoy your family time together.
[00:03:19.620]
Fit and Healthy Kids is a co-production
[00:03:21.497]
of Nebraska Extension, Georgia Extension,
[00:03:24.350]
Kansas State Extension, South Dakota State Extension,
[00:03:27.570]
and the Iowa Child Care Resource and Referral.
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Tags:
early childhood
emotions
fear
fit and healthy kids
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