How to Help Your Child Recognize and Understand Fear

LaDonna Werth and Lisa Poppe - Early Childhood Extension Educators Author

12/01/2022 Added

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We all experience fear from time to time. Fear is a normal and healthy human emotion. However, children and adults experience the world differently.

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[00:00:00.692]Fit and Healthy Kids - An Early Childhood Podcast
[00:00:04.762](LaDonna Werth) - Hello from Nebraska Extension, this is LaDonna Werth and
[00:00:08.904]Lisa Poppe - Extension Educators in the field of Early Childhood.
[00:00:13.672]We bring the research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to you.
[00:00:19.691]We all experience fears from time to time.
[00:00:23.371]Fear is a normal and healthy human emotion.
[00:00:26.371]However, children and adults experience the world differently.
[00:00:30.671]Lisa, can you tell us about children’s fears.
[00:00:33.964](Lisa Poppe) It is not uncommon for children to be afraid of things
[00:00:37.234]that don’t make sense to their parents.
[00:00:39.583]Separation from parents, monsters under the bed,
[00:00:42.483]loud sounds and other experiences which may seem minor or silly
[00:00:46.483]to adults are quite real to children.
[00:00:49.683](LaDonna Werth) How can we help children face fears in a positive way?
[00:00:53.253](Lisa Poppe) We need to keep in mind that it is good for children to have a
[00:00:56.383]healthy sense of caution - they should be afraid of
[00:00:59.324]running into the street for example.
[00:01:02.265]However, when a child has too much fear it can interfere with their normal
[00:01:06.835]and healthy development.
[00:01:08.635]When you teach your child to recognize and label fear,
[00:01:11.515]it helps him to better manage his emotions and handle life’s challenges.
[00:01:16.675](LaDonna Werth) Lisa how can I talk to my children about fears?
[00:01:20.835](Lisa Poppe) It is important to notice and label when your child or others are scared.
[00:01:25.442]Include the physical features of fear.
[00:01:28.268]You might say to your child, “You jumped and grabbed
[00:01:30.756]my leg when you heard that loud sound.
[00:01:33.069]You were scared.”
[00:01:34.949]It is also important to provide comfort and spend quality time
[00:01:38.249]together when he is scared.
[00:01:40.429]If your child is afraid of the dark, you can tell a story at bedtime and
[00:01:44.289]cuddle in the dark before you leave his room.
[00:01:47.019]This will help him to feel safe.
[00:01:49.179](LaDonna Werth) How can we use play time to help children with their fears?
[00:01:52.717](Lisa Poppe) Since children learn through play, puppets and toys are
[00:01:55.977]great ways to role play situations that your child understands.
[00:01:59.977]For example, “Wow, this dinosaur is shaking.
[00:02:03.307]He is scared because he is going to the doctor tomorrow.
[00:02:06.807]Let’s help him by telling him what will happen at the doctor’s office
[00:02:10.807]and teach him how to be brave.”
[00:02:13.378]Make sure to also celebrate your child’s successes.
[00:02:16.858]If your child is afraid of dogs, you can plan to walk by a house with a safe dog.
[00:02:22.051]When you have walked by the house you can say, “Wow, you walked right by that doggy.
[00:02:26.671]You are so brave!”
[00:02:28.541](LaDonna Werth) When we help our children understand fear
[00:02:30.776]and emotions what do they gain?
[00:02:33.819](Lisa Poppe) When you help your child to understand and label all of his feelings,
[00:02:37.699]including fear, sadness and jealousy, you give him more freedom to accept
[00:02:43.327]and experience the ups and downs of his life, which will ultimately
[00:02:47.074]reduce challenging behavior.
[00:02:49.174]Spend time together that will help him to feel cared for and safe.
[00:02:53.174]With love, practice and language he will learn that,
[00:02:57.784]although the feeling may be uncomfortable, it will pass.
[00:03:01.427](LaDonna Werth) Understanding our emotions and helping children understand
[00:03:04.947]their feelings is key in assisting children in reducing challenging behaviors.
[00:03:10.774]This has been LaDonna and Lisa with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
[00:03:14.967]Until next time, enjoy your family time together.
[00:03:19.091]Fit and Healthy Kids is a co-production of
[00:03:21.961]Nebraska Extension, Georgia Extension,
[00:03:24.531]Kansas State Extension, South Dakota State Extension,
[00:03:27.701]and the Iowa Childcare Resource and Referral.

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How to Help Your Child Recognize and Understand Fear

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