My kid thinks that the big bad wolf hides under his bed and is convinced he sees its ears at night time. (I am getting freaked too and slowly starting to believe him haha).
So I told him it only eats little girls and pigs (from books "Red riding hood" & "The 3 little pigs").
He ended up asking about his wee friends who are girls... my husband said "big girls". I started to think of the ASBO teenage girls around here so agreed.
Only to have my son ask about his friends big sisters who are nice girls.
Gee...I was losing the battle.
Can you help?
2007-01-24 22:36:05 · 23 answers · asked by _ 4 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
haha god love you what a dilemma, i have had a similar situation with my 7 year old but it was with "a bad tooth fairy", why dont you sit him down + get him to draw the big bad wolf as he sees him on paper (obviously it wont look scary) and ask him does it frighten him.. i reckon he'll say no to this so put it up on his bedroom wall and say everytime you think hes scary look at that and it will remind you that he is not scary at all but funny. then tell him the truth that there are no such things as a big bad wolf and it came from somebodies imagination just like his drawing came from his imagination.
i'd also let him check under his bed every night to let him see there is nothing there.
the problem should go away within a few nights but if it doesnt i'd maybe bring him to see somebody as it could be a cry for something else going on in his little head.bless him
good luck hope i've helped :--)
x
2007-01-24 23:06:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Have you tried a torch? My son used to be convinced that Sulley from monsters inc was hiding under his bed ha ha! But i gave him a torch telling him that Sulley didn't like torches..hes over it now, but why not try and give him a torch, telling him its a magic torch that scares away big bad wolves...or if you want to save on batteries, try letting him check under the bed before he goes into it..then show him there's no way the big bad wolf can get in! And to make it fun..let him have a good yell and shout hes not afraid of the big bad wolf (the song who's afraid of the big bad wolf is fun..especially when you start giggling because u don't know the words!)
Hope this helps...I've got 3 sons so i know all the under-the-bed monsters ha ha!!!
2007-01-24 22:48:54 · answer #2 · answered by sweet_blue_angel 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to be completely honest about the reality of his apparent fear.
Telling your kid that,"(the big bad wolf) ... only eats little girls and pigs." is a confirmation to him that the big bad wolf EXISTS!
You need to correct this by saying that, “this is a story in a book, and it is pretend. It is not real. There is no wolf. It is pretend. It doesn’t exist, it's just pretend in a story.”
You have to reinforce that message several times every time he brings it up. You need to be direct and confident in your response. You need to sound like a broken record. Children at this age are looking for inconsistencies in your response to their questions and concerns.
Then you need to be the one (or husband) whoever is putting him in bed, to show that there is nothing there (under the bed).
Next, be cognitive of the books that are being red to him. Books like this are scary to a young child. Also avoid books with unfriendly images – mean, scary looking characters. Dr Seuss is more appropriate.
Also be cognitive of the programming he is exposed to: TV, movies, violence, the news, commercials, all have an influence on their behavior and can increase or decrease their fears and how they respond to stimulus in the environment. Diet (sugar) also plays a role impacting a child’s behavior.
2007-01-24 23:18:02 · answer #3 · answered by Net Advisor™ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The easiest option would be to ask him to shout you if the wolf appears again. Go to him then show him under his bed. If he sees that the wolf is not there maybe this may calm him a little.
You could try to explain to him that these character are only pretend that they are not real. As he sounds like a very intelligent boy he may believe you. But after what you have told him about the wolf i think it may take a little explaining.
Good Luck
2007-01-25 02:46:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe getting him a dog and letting it sleep in his room would help he would feel safe and not be lonely. or you could buy him a torch and before he goes to bed at night get him to check under the bed with his dad, or he could draw a picture of his fave super hero and stick it on his wall and you say the wolf would be too scared to come near him now, i would change the books he reads and make them more funny then scary also leave a little lamp or night light on to as sometimes shadows can look like scary things...hope this helps good luck..........
2007-01-25 21:06:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 17 3 hundred and sixty 5 days previous brother with the same difficulty! i ought to signify eliminating the door from the hinges so there is not any privateness, taking the legs away from mattress, and getting a backyard rake and raking each and everything to the middle off the room. looked as if it would artwork for my brother. i love your concept besides. If he can't act like an human being, he receives dealt with like a infant.
2016-10-16 02:08:46 · answer #6 · answered by debbie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd stop giving him silly answers in the first place! Be calm. Every night look under the bed and let him look under the bed. I would have also said things like:
There are no wolves in this country except in zoos.
All the doors are shut.
Daddy and i wouldnt let a wolf get in.
2007-01-25 03:55:29 · answer #7 · answered by Caroline 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why not get him a toy sword and tell him the wolf will go away because it will be scared of it? or get him to wait outside while you pretend to have..and win, a fight with the wolf after which it goes away? Its all well and good when people say you need to remind him its not real, just a story etc, but he's 4 years old! At that age you will get him out of it quicker by playing along.
2007-01-24 23:31:42 · answer #8 · answered by serephina 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would suggesta night light and put a matress under the bad so therefor nothing can fit under there. Also make sure he is aware of this. If this doesnt work stay with him until he falls asleep , if he wakes up, he will still be able to see because it wont be dark, there will be a night light.
Goodluck xoxoxo
Email me and let me know if it works, if you have time
2007-01-24 23:08:54 · answer #9 · answered by fi_beans90 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try this...(may or may not work though) Get one of those spray bottles from your hardware (you know the ones you could/would put water in to spray your indoor plants or put a pesticide in or something like that.....) anyway...so..fill the bottle up with water and every night before your son goes to bed (make sure he sees you do it) squirt the water all around his room,under his bed etc and tell him its the ...say...Magic Wolf Potion or something like that...and tell him that the wolf doesn't like it and it will keep him away from his room or something to that affect...you may want to even write on the bottle "wolf potion" or whatever you decide to call it...I would even get your son to do the spraying each night before bed...maybe colour the water a bit so it looks like the real deal....It could work - just trying to help you out! Good Luck!
2007-01-24 22:49:47 · answer #10 · answered by babyblues_752001 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋