My daughter is almost 7 years old. We have lived in this house for over three years. She has just started this thing where she's scared to be in her own room, unless the light is on. Before I read a story and say goodnight prayers with her and tuck her in, she has me to "please check the corners". She says she is scared because she hears noises. She's also scared that there will be vampires there, because of some stupid movie her biological father apparantly thought it was okay for her to watch (I have joint custody). What can I do that might help her out? At this point, I am ready to try almost anything. She has a television up there, and a nightlight, which has helped a little. ANY IDEAS??
2006-08-22 13:16:44 · 24 answers · asked by carolina_girl 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
Get her a spray bottle with just water in it and maybe put in a little lavendar essential oil to make it smell good. Call it "monster spray" or something like that and she can spray it around her room before bed to keep the monsters away.
Get the book "Go Away Big Green Monster" by Ed Emberley and add it to your bedtime routine.
If she hears noises, what about giving her a radio or CD player or something to listen to quiet, calm music at bedtime?
If you have a dog, have the dog come in the room and "sniff for vampires" before bed.
Get her a stuffed dog to sleep with who can "protect her."
Get her a dream catcher to hang above her bed.
Besides the nightlight, what if she had a flashlight? They make some that automatically turn out after so many minutes, so you wouldn't have to worry about the battery running out.
2006-08-22 13:23:18 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have two ideas. She's seven so she will understand when you explain to her that monsters and vampires are make believe and only exist in movies and on TV because they are kind of like cartoons. They don't exist in REAL life. The other thing you could do is help your daughter rearrange her room, or even redecorate. She'll get to see every corner in the process and she'll feel more like her room is her territory, and therefore a safe place to be. Vampires, at least in the movies, only come by at night and they are silent and can get into rooms without people noticing. She needs to know that her room is the same whether the light is on or not.
2006-08-22 20:25:02 · answer #2 · answered by ScotOS 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Explain to her what that the vampires she thinks are real are not real, and where they came from. Explain to her about vampire bats and where they live, and what they really eat. Also, when night time comes, and she is scared, help her out a little. When she is ready to go to sleep, read her her story, tuck her in, and lay down next to her without the lights on and let her fall asleep. When she hears a noise explain what it is. Then, the next night don't lay down next to her, just bring a chair and sit next to her. Then gradually take the chair farther away, and until she can stay in the room by herself while your out in the hall.
Now, that's just an idea. There's a lot of flaws that can happen with my plan, because I've never tried it personally.
Good luck!
2006-08-22 20:23:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would sit and talk with her. Explain there is no such thing as a vampire. Go to her room with her and sit and listen for the noises, they may be noises she has never noticed before but now does, and doesn't know what they are. They can be simple things like water in the pipes, or a tree scratching against the house. If she is on the top floor, it may be a squirrel in the attic. Those fears of hers are real, and you need to validate her feelings. If you don't she may not trust you or her father again, which leads to troubles in the future. good luck
2006-08-22 20:28:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a spray bottle and fill it with water and a little perfume (to make it smell good). Call it Vampire Spray or Bad Things Spray. Have her spray it around her room and in the corners before she goes to bed. The use a night light or put a sliding switch on the wall light so that you can turn it down a little more each night. Good Luck!
2006-08-22 20:27:19 · answer #5 · answered by Cindy B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is such a sad predicament. I think you should sleep next to her for a few nights or just stay with her until she falls asleep. That way she feels safe and secure and she's in her own room. You can continue this every night and assure her there's nothing wrong and to trust you. And when she begins to feel more comfortable in her room, she'll adjust to sleeping with no one else with the night light on. And then eventually with the light off. Kids will grow out of these things. I had the same problem when I was a kid.
2006-08-22 22:49:32 · answer #6 · answered by Katt Attack 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WOW my kids were the same way for a few years that we lived in a trailer. I later found out that a young mind can sense ghostly activity. I am not saying that is what it is but it could be. After a while I got my boys to realize that if you talk to what it is that scares you then it won't be as scary or get her a flashlight that has different color lenses and tell her that the color will scare anything away. Help her take control of the situation. Remind her also that she has specail powers to beat anything.
2006-08-22 20:30:17 · answer #7 · answered by supermama10103 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Leave the lights on for her. Maybe get her a hampster or Guinea pig that she can "look after" it in her room. If the hamster isn't scared than she shouldn't be. It's a phase and she'll get through it, just try not to downplay it or belittle her feelings as they are very real to her even though they may not be to you. My son went though a spell of crying when I dropped him off at school, he was afraid something would happen to me and I wouldn't be there to pick him up. I just had to reassure him each day and told him exactly where I would be while he was in school. It took a couple of months and then he forgot all about it. Good luck to you and your daughter.
2006-08-22 20:25:21 · answer #8 · answered by i have no idea 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could always get one of those touch lights to help her feel more secure.. my youngest doesn't like the train we live by so she sometimes play the cd player real soft, just to outcast the train coming by sound.. maybe your daughter can do that.... I would def rip her dad's **** for letting her watch a film that was not permitted by you, since it's joint he needs to be more respectful of what the two of you think she should watch and not watch ya know... but anyways... I think her having a flashlight and knowing that you will check on her periodically threw the night would help.. maybe even do walkie talkies.. ya know for a few nights.. when she hears something she alrams you and you come check it out or calm her down over it... it might even be a good idea for you to sleep overnight in her room one or two times and let her get secure again...
2006-08-22 21:14:51 · answer #9 · answered by nknicolek 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My son is 10 and has bad dreams and lots of phobias..... He is scared to go into the next room without someone else a lot of the time. I really don't know why except maybe the nightmares....He had open heart surgery at 3 and sometimes I wonder if he remembers stuff or if there is any connection... I took him to a therapist and (as silly as it sounds to me) he told him to get a dream catcher to keep from having the nightmares. It has helped a lot (because he believes the Dr) but he does still have them sometimes and he asks me to buy another because that one got filled up. Lol...He also said for him to draw the dream and then either tear it up or take a marker and mark it all up to destroy it. I know that your situation is different but if the problem persists I would take her so that they can tell her things that would help. Good luck to you....
2006-08-22 20:31:27 · answer #10 · answered by millvill0921 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋