Concerning Kids – Children Fears

When my friends asked me to take their kid Amelia for a sleepover while they were away, I was excited about the time I would spend with the kid. But the reality was different. My apartment was unknown to Amelia, so she was afraid to be alone when I was not around.

I could not understand her fears because the lights were on. But when the kid preferred to sit near the bathroom door (while I was inside), I understood she did not have a happy experience staying in an unfamiliar house. Therefore, I spent some time walking her around the apartment and showing different funny stuff in every room so that it would not seem so unfamiliar to her.

Children often experience fears and anxieties as a natural part of their development. It influences their emotional well-being. Some common childhood fears include fear of the dark, unfamiliar things and places, monsters, animals, and separation from parents. Understanding that these fears are normal can help adults to approach them with empathy and patience.

That night, I called my friends and asked for advice, and they said that I should treat Amelia’s fears as something real, but I should also help her overcome them. Therefore, when Amelia asked me if I had any monsters around, I proudly said I had kicked out all monsters long ago.

Concerning Kids – How do kids convince their parents?

14-10-2023

Moreover, I learned that my friends gave Amelia her “bravery box”. They have created the box together with the kid. It was a usual small box containing different comforting items that could empower a kid to face her fears positively. Therefore, we opened the box together and went through the items. I saw a small flashlight, several candies, a small stuffed comfort toy, several pictures of Amelia with her parents doing different activities, a whistle, and also paper for drawing with a set of crayons.

Before Amelia went to bed, we checked all the corners and the space under the bed, and I left the night lamps in every corridor. I was struggling a bit because my inner person just wanted to say, “Amelia, man up and do not say any foolishness about monsters in the darkness; you should grow up!”. Instead, I had to learn to empathize with Amelia and talk to her on her level when addressing the child’s fears and challenges.

Amelia fell asleep with the “bravery box” next to her. The next morning, she was a happy little girl who had a good night’s sleep.

It’s okay for kids to feel scared. Everyone experiences fears; adults have their fears, as well as kids. However, I was there to support her and protect her, even if the danger was imaginary. Amelia’s parents were happy that the kid slept well; you can guess what happened later. They asked me again to take her for another night.