How to Calm Your Child's Fears of the Dark

Fear of the dark is a common fear for children. As a parent, it is important to provide reassurance to their concerns and communicate that you understand their concerns. Teach your child to be safe in the dark. Use confrontation strategies for children to help them feel comfortable when they are alone at night. By making the bedtime routine is something fun and relaxing, and sleeping in the dark will seem less scary.



Talk with your child about their fears sleep time. Ask your child what he or she thinks and feels when it's dark. Reassure your child that the normal fears, will be less when they grow up. Be respectful. [1]
Avoid silly to say that their fears. This may make them feel guilt or shame, and it is important to show you support.
And communicating concerns to help your child learn to be open with you. This builds trust with the passage of time.
Consider saying: "I know it feels scary at the moment, and that's normal, but it will get better" or "Tell me what makes you feel scared. How can I help?"


Provide comfort for your child to be safe. Feeling afraid of the dark, fear is a primitive evolutionary. Sleep alone in a separate bedroom is a modern way of life. This practice takes a long time for your child to understand. Be loving, comfortable, and supportive. Reassure them that they are safe with you. [2]
Be an example and demonstrate the confidence that they are safe. Stay calm and sensitivity to the needs of your child.
The desire to avoid excessive attention. If you show concern for their safety, then they may respond by being more worried.
Consider saying: "Do not worry. Is it safe here at home."

Avoid increasing concerns. If your child is afraid of monsters under the bed or anywhere else in the home, do not reinforce these fears by playing along. Children have imaginary fears that you might think is real to them. Young children under the age of 5 have difficulty distinctive fantasy from reality. [3]
Does not promote unintentionally fears scare your child with scary stories of "things that go bump in the night."
The use of reason and logic to help your child learn about their concerns.

Teach your child to face their fears. It is important to teach your child how to face their fears and address the fear of the dark is a good opportunity. You can do this by modeling how to face your fears and comforting a child during the process of the face of fear.
For example, if your child is afraid that there is something under the bed, then go check it out together. Turn on the lights and have your child hold their favorite stuffed animal or your hand to rest. Then, look under the bed for your child. Naming what you see under the bed, like some of the dust, a box of clothes, old game, not monsters.
Keep in mind that you may have to repeat this process over and over again as your child learns how to face their fears and become more self-confident.

Use night. Get a candle for your child's bedroom. Night gives enough light, which helps your child feel comfortable. [4]
It can also be night and placed in the hallways and bathrooms to help calm those fears if it walks out of the room in the dark.
If a candle is not available or disrupt your baby to sleep, leaving the hall light on the child's bedroom door open. This allows little light to enter. You may make your child feel isolated with the door ajar.


Providing an object to companionship. Your child may feel safer with something to ease his or her fears. Consider creating your faces for your child's safety as they learn to sleep on their own. Consider the following:
Large stuffed animals. This can provide comfort to calm fears or anxiety.
Private or other object to provide a security blanket. This may make your child feel more protected.
Pet, like a dog or cat, your child has to sleep with her.
Provide positive reinforcement. Use the tools needed to help them learn to sleep can be a rewarding experience. For young children, and it can be a sticker program that leads to a small prize. It helps to teach the child that he will be rewarded for good behavior. Teach them how to be brave like you with encouragement. [5]
After the lights are out, consider saying something like "You're doing such a good job of staying in bed."
If you listen to your child's fears continued to persist in spite of these technologies. We talk to them about their experiences in the morning.


Teach your child to soothe the soul. There can not be every night to provide positive reinforcement and reassurance for your child. So, it's a good idea to teach your child how to do this for themselves.
Try to teach your child to speak reassuring words for themselves, such as, "I'm safe, I'm brave, I'm going to be ok."
You can also teach your child to do something like rubbing the feet or hands together as soothing tactile or humming the tune comfort to feel safer because they fall asleep.
Your child can also repeat aloud what they found under the bed