No more monsters under the bed!

Help your child get over their fear of the dark!

I remember I used to be so scared of dark, now it does seem funny but back then I spent many sleepless nights fearing that ‘Boogeyman’ will come and eat me up. I am sure a lot of you have kids who are scared of the dark.

Many kids have their anxiety level going up when the lights go down. Children face fears of various things at various points, usually based on the fear of the unknown. Fear of the dark is a common problem for kids. Not being able to see what is in a dark room scares the child and leaves their imagination to run wild with scary possibilities. Millions of kids are convinced that something is lurking in the shadows waiting to gobble them up. Night time naturally brings out this fear in children, potentially causing difficulty at bedtime. Helping your child deal with her fears of the dark means a better night's sleep for everyone involved.

You can help your child with some of these handy tips but don’t forget it also involves a great deal of patience.

Understand why children are afraid? Where his fear of the dark comes from?
“Television is one of the worst offenders when we’re talking about a fear of the dark,” says a child psychologist. “Parents don’t recognize how much TV can affect their children.” Whether it’s a violent news story or even a popular cartoon program, experts say that TV can give kids plenty of ammunition when it comes to fear. And surprisingly, another culprit when it comes to nighttime fears is a well-intended parent who tells a child, “You better behave, or the XYZ will get you,” Although it might seem like light-heated discipline, this simple phrase can instill a solid case of night-time heebie-jeebies for a kid. Acknowledge your child’s fears in order to help her work through them. Strike a balance. Don’t ignore the fears, but don’t get over-involved in them either, or your child will play up the fear to get your attention.

Create a comfortable ambience

Install a nightlight or other dim light in your child’s room. Reassure your child but do not try to eliminate or “fix” the fear for her. Instead of saying “You’re not really afraid of the dark,” for instance, you might say, “You are afraid of the dark. Don’t worry, you are safe.” Or, “Sometimes the dark does seem scary, but you are safe.” This is the first step.

Comforting bedtime routine

Establish a soothing bedtime routine that you follow every night to create predictability at night. Use stories, music and cuddling as a way to put your child at ease for a more relaxed state as the lights go off.

Drive the fear out in a fun way

Play games that expose your child to the dark in an entertaining way. For example, you might take flashlights into a dark room and try to find different objects or play hide and seek in the backyard after dark. Provide your child reassurance during these games to help him become more accustomed to the dark.

Don’t do sleepovers

Return your child to his own bed if he wakes in the middle of the night upset about the dark. Help him calm down and get settled back in his own bed rather than letting him sleep in your bed, which might make him think there really is something to be scared of in his own room.

Don’t ignore a larger problem

Stress in general, like divorce, the death of a pet, or the birth of a baby, can throw anyone off kilter and increase the risk for anxiety, even kids. As a result, that anxiety can appear at night as a fear of the dark, Dobbins says. If there are family issues at play, talk to your pediatrician and see whether it might be helpful for your child to talk to a counselor.