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does any one know the best way to stop a child from being afraid of the dark shes even afraid with the night light on

2006-06-26 13:51:24 · 13 answers · asked by aryanna 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting Parenting

she is afraid of everything from bugs to a little noise to being alone i dont know what to do

2006-06-26 13:57:10 · update #1

well she dosent get out of the bed she just screams and this little girl never runs out of gas even in the daylight

2006-06-26 14:03:28 · update #2

13 answers

Systematic Desensitization training may be helpful. Consult a good behavior analyst!


http://www.dushkin.com/connectext/psy/ch14/sysdes.mhtml

2006-06-26 14:15:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0 1

Please keep in mind that my comment is not meant to discourage you, but I am 23 years old and I still fear the dark. I used to work the night shift at work and would ask another co-worker to go with me to another floor (that had the snack machine) because the lights were always turned off at night. She would give me confidence until I was able to turn the lights on.

As an adult, I know the fear is irrational. I guess the best way for your daughter is to know you are nearby. Every time she calls out, answer her. Tell her she is fine. Don't necessarily go to her every time, but let her know you are there.

Something that helped me was knowing exactly where everything was. That way, if I got up in the dark, I wouldn't bump into anything. It's comforting knowing that everything is exactly where you left it, in the dark or in the light.

I hope this helps a little.

2006-06-26 20:58:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Maybe you can start doing fun things in the dark, too. When the sun goes down you could go outside and catch lightening bugs or have a mini campfire with s'mores. My young children love this game I got from a book...Before bedtime, I hide their favorite stuffed animals in places around the room (like behind a sheer curtain, under the table, etc...I make them simple). We turn out all the lights so it's really dark, and the kids use flashlights to find all their toys and put them back in the toybox. They have a blast even though they used to be afraid in the dark. Try things like this that might make her feel like the dark can be fun, too, and she might relax a little bit.

2006-06-26 22:08:56 · answer #3 · answered by Call me AL 3 · 0 0

When I was 4 yrs old I had a 200 watt lite in the ceiling. I could get under the bed and look at my picture books. My parents would turn it off after I fell asleep.If I woke up I would turn on my ceiling lite and look under the bed and go back to sleep.Sometime in the nite they would turn it off again.. I still slept with a lamp on in the 2nd grade and one nite I could hear a slight dinging in my closet.I was scared and I went to the closet and opened the door to see empty coat hangers rotating side to side like kinetic motion .I laughed to myself and figured out the BOOGIE MAN wasn't in there and then I went over and turned out my light. Don't worry about the child,just get a 200 watt light bulb and screw it in the ceiling or wherever else you can and turn it off when she is asleep. Don't be to hard on her as later on it was kind of fun being afraid of the dark

2006-06-26 21:25:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

every child is afraid of the dark, I was afraid of the dark when I was little too, until one day, I was 6 or 7 maybe, I was forced to stay outside the house for hours till dawn, all I had was something that could make me feel secure against monsters of some sorts :-). After that, I wasn't afraid at all, but I still carry that "something" that made me feel protected.

2006-06-26 20:58:31 · answer #5 · answered by johnny_bravo_18ph 2 · 0 0

You are going to have to lay with her until she falls asleep. Normally, they grow out of it. If she wakes up during the night, again go back. Especially since it seems you know what she is afraid of and she is not going to stop screaming. Good luck to you!

2006-07-03 07:32:12 · answer #6 · answered by GOUTVOLS 4 · 0 0

not sure, I'm 25 and I still sleep with the light on not just the night light either, I have to have a bright light, my parents always let me sleep with them so I would say just make sure the child is not sleeping with you at all

2006-06-26 20:56:26 · answer #7 · answered by mandie 4 · 0 0

figure out what shes sees in the dark figure out how it scares her and y bcuz im 16 and still afraid of the dreadful darkness

2006-06-26 20:56:44 · answer #8 · answered by DaDzCe 2 · 0 0

Your best bet is to duct tape her to the bed and let her cry it off. She'll get used to it, and kids can't cry forever, so she'll run out of gas. Problem solved.

2006-06-26 20:59:33 · answer #9 · answered by Horny Goat Weed 2 · 0 1

First, you have to find out what she is afraid of. You can't overcome a fear until you know what the fear is.

2006-06-26 20:55:07 · answer #10 · answered by ~ â?¥ ~ Annette ~ â?¥ ~ 3 · 0 0

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