How to Help Your Child Recognize & Understand Fear
University Nebraska Lincoln
Author
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.
- [00:00:30.900]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
- [00:00:38.040]to their parents.
- [00:00:39.370]Separation from parents, monsters under the bed,
- [00:00:42.950]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?
- [00:00:53.530]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,
- [00:01:00.970]for example.
- [00:01:02.230]However, when a child has too much fear,
- [00:01:04.950]it can interfere with their normal and healthy development.
- [00:01:08.530]When you teach your child to recognize and label fear,
- [00:01:11.800]it helps him to better manage his emotions
- [00:01:14.600]and handle life's challenges.
- [00:01:17.010]Lisa, how can I talk to my children about fears?
- [00:01:21.330]It is important to notice and label
- [00:01:22.891]when your child or others are scared.
- [00:01:25.720]Include the physical features of fear.
- [00:01:28.060]You might say to your child, "You jumped and grabbed my leg
- [00:01:31.190]when you heard that loud sound.
- [00:01:33.100]You were scared."
- [00:01:34.495]It is also important to provide comfort
- [00:01:36.849]and spend quality time together when he is scared.
- [00:01:40.280]If your child is afraid of the dark,
- [00:01:42.320]you can tell a story at bedtime and cuddle in the dark
- [00:01:45.240]before you leave his room.
- [00:01:46.820]This will help him to feel safe.
- [00:01:48.620]How can we use playtime to help children
- [00:01:51.450]with their fears?
- [00:01:52.990]Since children learn through play,
- [00:01:54.900]puppets and toys are great ways to role play situations
- [00:01:58.390]that your child understands.
- [00:02:00.210]For example, "Wow, this dinosaur is shaking.
- [00:02:03.430]He is scared because he is going to the doctor tomorrow."
- [00:02:06.760]Let's help him by telling him what will happen
- [00:02:09.359]at the doctor's office and teach him how to be brave.
- [00:02:13.810]Make sure to also celebrate your child's successes.
- [00:02:16.830]If your child is afraid of dogs,
- [00:02:19.040]you can plan to walk by a house with a safe dog.
- [00:02:22.170]When you have walked by the house, you can say,
- [00:02:24.327]"Wow, you walked right by that doggie.
- [00:02:26.750]You are so brave."
- [00:02:28.520]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
- [00:02:36.480]all of his feelings, including fear,
- [00:02:39.190]sadness and jealousy, you give him more freedom to accept
- [00:02:43.060]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.
- [00:02:50.510]That will help him to feel cared for and safe.
- [00:02:53.660]With love, practice, and language,
- [00:02:56.440]he will learn that although the feeling
- [00:02:58.590]may be uncomfortable, it will pass.
- [00:03:01.470]Understanding our emotions
- [00:03:03.180]and helping children understand their feelings
- [00:03:05.950]is the key in assisting children
- [00:03:08.160]in reducing challenging behaviors.
- [00:03:11.170]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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