How do I help a young child conquer fear of spiders at bedtime?

Question

fear of monsters has recently turned into fear of spiders.
we had two spiders. I caught them and got rid of them. I can't find a source for the spiders. I haven't found any more in the room.

Answer 1

Do your best to not to communicate any fears about spiders to your child you may have. Calmly reassure your child that you will take care of them and that they will not be hurt. Please don’t show your child how to kill spiders you find in your home or outdoors! Teach your child the lesson that all living things have a right to live. If you find a spider in your home, gently place a cup over it and slide a piece of paper under it. Take it outside, with your child, and place it in your garden or among some plants. Explain that spiders are good for plants and people because they eat the insects that are harmful or bothersome to plants and people.

Explain to your child that if you do not bother spiders, they will not bother you.

Read stories about spiders. Many children become fascinated with insects when they learn more about them. You can ask your local librarian to help you find books with spiders such as science books with photos of spiders. Share with your child what you know or are learning about spiders. You can also take them for a nature walk or to a nature center. Most children enjoy seeing things that they are learning about.

Play with toy bugs. Put plastic and rubber spiders and bugs in your sand box or garden for your child to explore.

You can also make a “Spider spray” for your child. Spray their room before bedtime and leave it by their bedside to have if any fears arise.

You can find a spider repeller at you local hardware store like this. http://www.pestrepellerultimate.com/google.htm Explain to your child that this repeller keeps away all insects! They really work! Hope this helps!

Answer 2

For my kids, it always helped by getting a toy spider that they could play with. I also got a spider book to show the different kinds of spiders that are friendly and the ones that are poisonous. When I brought it home and they saw me holding it and playing with it, they were automatically interested. They asked me what I was doing, so I told them I'm learning about spiders so I won't be scared anymore. I asked them for help so I won't be so afraid and they forgot about their own fear and tried to help me with mine! We sat there and read the book together and played with the toy spider!

Answer 3

Well i can only speak from expierience of when i was little, i was absolutely terrified of spiders at bedtime,
My parents would just check everywhere in my room with me and assure me that there wern't any spiders anywhere.
Just seeing that there was nothing there, no cobwebs or anything made me feel better.

Answer 4

First put little spider traps in the corners of the rooms. You can buy these at any hardware store. Then show the child or perhaps get him to help you put them in the corners. Buy him a Praying Mantis teddy stuffed animal might help too.

Answer 5

make up a magic water spray bottle that will get rid of spiders and every night spray the air through the open door, then while it is working there is time to bursh the teath and have a wash.

Answer 6

I made up a simple room spray of lavender and water, which I called
the ' ..... away spray'. (insert whatever child is scared of.)
You could name yours 'SPIDER AWAY SPRAY' ! :-D
This magic spray simply keeps the monsters, spiders or whatever away. They won't come near it.


It works wonders!!!
You can use anything you don't usually use, so it's a different smell. The advantage of lavender is that it's a calming sleep aid...
Good luck

Answer 7

well, you can do many things to lower your childs level of anxiety and fear. let your child talk about it, but be careful not to add to his/her anxiety yourself. take him/her to the backyard or a garden, find some spiders , and kill them with your child, this way he/she can overcome the fear when sees that he/she can kill them, and if necessaryremove them from the bedroom, and is more powerful that the spiders. you can also by some artificial ones and let the child throw it, hit it, hurt it, and does what he wants to them, to be emotionally released. you can also buy some black strings, and threads and ropes, and make some spiders with them. this really gives the child the feeling of power and ability over the spider and lowers his fear and anxiety very much. be careful, you do not remind him/her of his/her fear. let the child start to talk at nights, if he/she wants.

Answer 8

See a pet store or Zoo and educate the child on spiders.Most are harmless.