How do you get a four year old to sleep in his bed and how do you cure him of being scared of "monsters"?

Answer 1

Tackle the monsters first, otherwise it ends up being a losing battle to keep him in bed.
Empowerment to handle the monsters himself is your goal. Not to eliminate the fear, that negates his feelings and will make him feel stupid or not listened to. Make "monster repellent" which can be an aerosal air-freshener can painted with a monster's face on it (preferably with an X over it or the circle and slash), or a small (very very small) spray bottle with a little water with two drops of vanilla or peppermint extract in it, also decorated with a monster's face. Explain that it works like bug repellent, he can spray his bedrom door and his closet door and window (wherever necessary) before bed and no monster can walk through them. Let him keep it near the bed in case a monster sneaks in so they can spray the monster. Many people will tell you to post a guard, a teddy or something, but it has been my experience that many of these guards turn on the kid. Even the friendliest face can look creepy in the dark when you are already scared. A big shape can also look like it is moving in low light, so remove any large structures like vacuums etc that don't need to be there. Give your son a recorder or whistle to call for help and always respond as if it were a real emergency, that lets your child know that they can rely on you to come and they will stop calling you to them as often after about a week or so. If your child comes running out of their room terrified, don't send them back alone. Go with them and double check, give them a flashlight and have them do the checking but be there with them. Once you have conquered the monsters, the bed issue will be relatively easy. Tell your child he must stay in bed. Tape 10 pennies to the door frame, anytime you have to take your child back to bed, take a penny, let him keep whatever is left in the morning. Put them in a large jar or something else that he can see every night as he goes to bed. Take him shopping to spend the money after a week or so (I used quarters so that my son could actually buy something more than a stick of gum). After the first week of having just enough to get something but not enough to get the good toy, you won't have to worry about him coming out again. Note: Give him one get out of bed free card a night to be used for a visit to the bathroom or he may wet himself to save a penny.

Answer 2

Try a night light and a squirt gun or water bottle.The night light so he can see and the spray bottle filled with magic monster spray to kill the monsters.We have had a very protective dog since my daughter was little and when she went through the monster and ghost stage we made a bed at the end of hers for the dog to sleep which in turn he had to keep the monsters away.But my aunt did the night light and water bottle for her sons and it worked also. hope this helps.

Answer 3

Reward him for sleeping in his own bed and take something away when he doesn't comply. To get rid of the monster fear, depending on where the child senses the monster (under bed, closet,etc) have the child confront the fear with out you being in the room. Have the child sleep in the closet, or under the bed. Another approach is to watch horror movies with them and explain that the monsters you see in the movies are not real.

Answer 4

In our house there is no monsters daddy eats them for a snack so they usually don't come here....as for putting my 6 and 3 year olds to bed i usually read them a story and tuck them in.

Answer 5

read to them in there own bed and let them talk to you and let them get comfortable in the bedroom and stay in there with them till they are sound asleep