10 common fears of children that every parent should recognize to help overcome them

Many psychologists and pediatricians talk about the most common fears of children and how they can be overcome, and they have determined that confidence and tranquility are 2 strong elements that parents must transmit to their little ones so that they feel confident and have courage. According to some specialized articles, fearing something is normal and part of human evolution. However, if the fear gets worse, the ideal is to visit a specialist, as it can turn into a phobia and cause many problems.

O awesome.club created a series of illustrations that talk about the most common fears of little ones and a list of recommendations for controlling each situation.

This is a common fear and tends to present itself at different stages of childhood, starting as early as 5 or 6 months of age (when babies begin to recognize their parents’ voices). It’s all due to the anxiety generated in children when they don’t recognize faces or energies of people they don’t live with, even if it’s a close relative, like an uncle or a grandfather. At this point, babies begin to cry and wait for their parents to pick them up to calm them down.

How many of us didn’t cry when we saw Dad or Mom leave, when they took us to school? Most of us have probably gone through this. In this case, this fear also arises when children are young, but the good news is that, after a while, the minor gets used to it and learns that parents have other responsibilities and that they will only be at school/daycare for a few hours, which which suppresses the fear of separation.

Between ages 2 and 4, children begin to experience fears and phobias brought on by things like the dark or ghosts. This is due to the development of cognitive abilities, something that allows the little one to create fear in others such as tragedies, the death of family members or a loved one, or to make a fool of himself in front of others. “The child’s contact with the school, with other children and with other teachers has a lot to do with the development of this fear”, emphasized the Anxiety Clinic of Spain.

Something that is very scary in children is pain, especially if caused by needles. They have been hated over the years, and it is the parents who often convey this insecurity. For this reason, some pediatricians recommend not scaring children by saying that they will be taken to the doctor as a punishment, as this could cause many problems later on.

Fear of animals can arise because children see the dog, cat or other pet as a threat rather than an animal to play with. It is also possible to develop this fear in case the child has had a bad experience, or when seeing that someone has suffered an attack by a pet or even under the influence of the parents themselves. According to psychologist David Cortejoso, “this type of fear is called ‘evolutionary’, since we have it innately and, at some point in human evolution, it was very useful for us to survive”.

Another very common fear is loud noises such as explosions, thunderstorms or fireworks. The first reaction of the little ones when they hear something different is to cry, and they can only be consoled when they are taken away from the place that caused them the anguish.

“We shouldn’t worry too much, as evolutionary fears form part of our children’s normal development. But neither should we underestimate the suffering of the little ones, believing that, with time, the problems will disappear. I believe that we should not detract from the importance of the subject, but rather obtain information from reliable sources and use common sense”, said psychologist Montse García in an article.

There are children who enjoy the water, but others not so much. This fear is realized because many do not think it is a fun environment. For the little ones to get used to it, parents should put some techniques into practice, little by little, as forcing them to dive can have a very negative impact. In fact, many psychologists see adults who suffer from disorders caused by a fear of water, which are irrational and very harmful.

When children start to develop their imagination (between 2 and 4 years old), they believe that sleeping is something negative. As they don’t know how to differentiate reality from fantasy, they believe that bad people or animals are hiding under their bed that will cause them some harm. This, in addition to the dark, is a problem many parents must deal with. But because it’s an evolutionary fear, with growth and development, they’ll forget about it.

To celebrate Halloween, parents often dress up their little ones. However, some children refuse to participate in the game, as they are afraid of dressing up or people in costume. It is important to know that this fear happens because of the child’s imagination, but if it continues, it can become a phobia, which can only be treated by a specialist.

“Be sure to play dress-up with the child, as it is a game with many benefits. Through it, the child can express blocked feelings, overcome relationship problems, and also learn to empathize with the other”, emphasized psychologist Marta Martínez Lledó.

Visiting the hairdresser can be a problem for many parents, and this is due to the little one’s fear that a stranger with scissors will cause some “damage” to their hair. To avoid this, it is important to familiarize the child with his hair and get him used to having it cut from time to time.

When the child is afraid of something, the following is recommended:

Reassure her and say “everything is fine”. Conveying security and accompanying her will help her a lot. As the child grows, talk to him constantly and get to know his feelings and fears. Accompany her to discover or experience new things and, in this way, to break barriers. Help her trust other people who spend a lot of time with her, such as uncles, grandparents, teacher or classmates. When you need to part with her because you have to go to work, for example, you should hug her and tell her you’ll be back soon. If the child is afraid of the dark and noise, do a routine that reassures him, such as reading or talking before bed. When the child believes that there are ghosts under the bed, accompany him to prove that this is not the case. With your support, she will know that there is nothing to be afraid of, and this will make her braver. If any fear continues for a long time, it’s important to look for an expert.

What other common fears in children do you know? What do you do to prevent your children from developing phobias? Tell us in the comments section!

illustrator Natalia Tylosova for great.guru