she wont even touch the ocean-and hates going to the aquarium. we let her know she's safe and dont push to hard.
2006-08-09 06:19:46 · 22 answers · asked by cassiepiehoney 6 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
Patience, introduce her to the water slowly, over time and at her own comfort level. You can't get her over her fear, but you can teach her to rationally deal with it, and learn to live with it.
2006-08-09 06:24:37 · answer #1 · answered by illustrat_ed_designs 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1. Read books where sharks are protrayed as good animals/characters.
2. make her watch FINDING NEMO.
3. Sit down with her and show her books on sharks (real sharks). Explain why their existance is important to the food chain in the ocean. Explain that they are made of cartilage not bones. Give her more and more interesting facts.
4. Buy her a pet fish, and compare similarites with sharks.
5 Make her watch shark programs on the TV. Shark Week re-runs on the Discovery Channel.
6. Go to the beach and slowly make her enter the water. This may take time, but show her that it's safe. Make sure to tell her that most sharks live where it's deep and not in the beach.
7. Take her to the aquarium again, I sure she will not be scared by now.
8. Don't let her watch JAWS until she is 10.
Good luck.
2006-08-09 13:30:38 · answer #2 · answered by joossa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she ever watched finding nemo or sharks tale? They both have shark characters that are not really violent at heart?
I wouldn't worry about it too much...give it time....i'm 27 and was at the beach and there was nobody really there or in the water. I'm not the best swimmer but i just wanted to body surf a little. Anyway I couldn't even go in the water past my waist because the ocean looked to damn intimidating! seriously though, as soon as there was a couple (yes only 2 more people) nearby that went in the water, I actually felt safer or something lol and was able to get in all the way where i was swimming. It's all mental, the ocean is the biggest thing on this earth!!!!! it's not a suprise that a 5 yr old is afraid, when i at 27 was technically afraid, lol
2006-08-09 13:27:56 · answer #3 · answered by Joshua J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to give her time and continue not to push her.
My young (not thinking) parents took me when I was 5 yrs. to see the first JAWS movie (I guess everyone can guess my age now). All through my childhood I was terrified. I remember standing at the edge of my grandma's pool for probably 10 -15 minutes just staring into the water. My dad's solution was to grab me and jump in, let just say that did not go over well!
As I got older I could reason the probability of a shark attacking me but I always had a nagging fear. Now, I find sharks fascinating, but still feel uncomfortable swimming at the beach, so I stick with pools.
Long story short she may grow out of it, she may not. There are lots of other activities you can do with her that can be fun.
2006-08-09 13:36:36 · answer #4 · answered by 4 Eyes 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pretty valid fear mum! Me too is petrified of the sharks and their watery world. Read all the Jaws books and saw all the movies I did and true or untrue those visions stay with me. Give her time she only 5. Just make sure you present a balanced positive description of sharks and the like where they live and what their purpose is, her fear will lesson over time. All the best!
2006-08-09 13:35:39 · answer #5 · answered by Ms CMP5260 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well then your doing a great job so far. A fear of sharks is common not just in kids but adults to. i have friends who are scared of sharks even at the aquarium. but if its an answer you want i suggest showing some kids movies with friendly sharks in them or mabye just trying to find the source of the fear. and working from there. has she seen any movies or shows where sharks attack people mabye by accedent.
2006-08-09 14:00:53 · answer #6 · answered by funluvenguy2003 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't push it, she will in time. I had the same phobia when I was little, only it wasn't just sharks, it was ALL big fish. Didn't go in the ocean for years, but little at a time I started going in. Have to tell you, it still isn't my favorite and I won't go that far in but I'm much better than I was when I was little. Good luck
2006-08-09 13:30:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My 13 year old son was affraid of sharks on TV. in books so bad that he walked on the furniture to keep any sharks from getting to him just in case the floor turned into water. This went on from the age of 4 till the age of 11. He finally grew out of it due to his learning about reality. Dont worry about your 5 year old. This too shall pass.
2006-08-09 13:31:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a natural fear so i'd say she wont get over it but try showing her all sharks arent jaws like the whaleshark explain that some sharks only eat kril might help
2006-08-09 13:24:10 · answer #9 · answered by the ole ball and chain 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
let her watch Jaws.... KIDDING lol. My neice and nephew had the same difficulty. We found some great kid-friendly books about sharks and sea creatures in general. It takes time, but slowly introduce them into her library and it will help get her more curious then scared.
2006-08-09 13:28:16 · answer #10 · answered by Emma 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋