How can we tell children not to be afraid of monsters?

Question

...when monsters are REAL! That would be a lie if we were to say there were no monsters.

Unless the child believes in an animal-like scary monster, there is not much we can say. Right?

There was this one child who said that Neil Thatchet was living in his closet!

That scared the #$%^ out of me!


Note: Neil Thatchet is an infamous serial child killer/ molester in our local area. A real monster.

Answer 1

Children have such enormous imaginations. It really does no good to tell them their monsters do not exist.

You might try finding out what is behind the fear. Has the child been watching the news or hearing adults talk about something scary (that sounds like the likely source for the child serial killer fear). Scary movies can do it to...even Disney movies can be scary to a little kid.

Once you eliminate outside sources for the fear, you can try to reassure your child that you are right down the hall and s/he can call for you any time. You can also ask the child what s/he needs to feel safe. Maybe give the child a special flashlight s/he can use whenever s/he needs it (my daughter has a cute flashlight in the shape of tiger that lets out a tiny roar when it turns on). I've even heard of kids wanting a spray bottle of water by the bed to spray the monsters. Whatever EMPOWERS the child is a good idea.

You might even consider the option of letting the child come to your bed when really frightened. Just knowing s/he can might be enough to make the child sleep easier. If you're not comfortable w/ the child actually in your bed, you can put a small matress or pad beside the bed for "emergencies." Putting the younger child w/ an older sibling may help too.

One more thing, you'll probably want to double check that there isn't anything outside the windows that can scare the child. A shadow perhaps or noises. Make sure the windows are closed and securely locked, etc.

Answer 2

With my 5 year old and 3 year old this is what worked. First we watched Monsters Inc. Together so see that monsters are scared of us like we are of them. Then i got a spray bottle and filled it with water and put a little vanilla in it so that they wouldn't know it was just water then every night we would search the room and spray in the closet, in the heater vent, under the bed and every where else they thought was a monster. I also put a label on it that said Monster spray. We still do this once in a while but I guess it worked for them because the stay in their bed all night now and not mine.

Answer 3

Look around the room with them for monsters. Open the closet and say, "Are there any monsters in here?" and look around with them and say, "I dont see any do you?" If they say yes and point at something, then you should say, "No, thats just a sweater, see?" Look under the bed, in the dresser, all around the room. Do it every night until they know there aren't any monsters. Sometimes, if necessary its good to stay in the room with them until they fall asleep(dont do it all the time, though or else they'll become really clingy, fast).

Nightlights are good inventions, too.

Another suggestion, would be something my mom taught me and my sister. I'm a Christian, but you can say it, too. "Bad thoughts go away, Jesus is my friend. Perfect love casts out all fear."

Answer 4

um...try playing a game with kid. Make some swords and some "battle gear" and go fight those monsters! When you put the kid in control it calms a lot of those fears. Not to mention that the kid is going to gain a lot of respect for you. Try it! Worked for us!

Answer 5

Speaking from the perspective of the mommy of a 3yo when she tells me she is afraid of monsters I tell her that monsters aren't scary. "Elmo is a monster, is he scary? No. Cookie Monster is a monster, is he scary? No. See, monsters aren't scary"

That is always how I handle it.

Answer 6

give him or her a spray bottle (filled with water) and tell him if he sprays the "monster" it will evaporate!!