Pure Parents

Question:

> How long do you think this will continue? > I’m no yuppie and I comfort her but still > wonder since she’s my first child

Fear of the dark is a common development at this age.  This can be short lived or quite long lasting.  I hate to confess, but I am still afraid of the dark – or rather what it might be hiding, which is actually what the little ones might well be afraid of as well.  Use of low light levels such as hall lights, night lights, and similar items can help. Be prepared for the monster under the bed/in the closet/outside the window routine.  That may well be next!  There are about as many ways of dealing with that as there are children in a good sized town, so I won’t go into some of them now other than suggest that you start thinking about what might best reassure your child that there is no monster and that they are safe. Now, the rain thing might be more readily assuaged by making rain fun and interesting.  Play in puddles in a light rain, sail boats down the gutter, make wearing rain coats and puddle splashing boots fun and the sound of rain will become an invitation to play and fun.  Um, then you have to set limits, but that is easier than dealing with irrational fears.  {Warning, don’t play in puddles in thunderstorms!] Good luck.  Ain’t parenting just so boring! -Aula

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> How long do you think this will continue? > I’m no yuppie and I comfort her but still > wonder since she’s my first child > Thanks, > Kimberly’s Mom > Fear of the dark is a pretty common one, and can last a while, or be rather > short-lived.  Even *I* don’t like complete darkness, and I’m 38, lol!  A > night light might help her. > My dd was also scared when she heard the rain, especially at night when she > couldn’t look outside to see it, but she could hear it on the roof.  We just > used opportunities when it was raining during the day to hold her and talk > to her about it.  I’d sit by the door with her on my lap, so she could feel > secure, and watch the rain.  We also took showers with her and showed her > how the shower was just like rain.  She likes water and showering, so it > seemed to help.

My kids weren’t afraid of the rain. That was a good thing. We lived in a part of Oregon that receives 300 days of rain a year. But they were afraid of thunder. So we adopted the book, "Thunder Cake" by Patricia Polacco, wherein Grandmother and granddaughter make a "thunder cake" when the storms hit and everything is wonderful and warm. The kids loved it and it never took very long to stop worrying about the thunder. You might try something similar with a "rain cake" and start a nice family tradition in the process.

Response:

> How long do you think this will continue? > I’m no yuppie and I comfort her but still > wonder since she’s my first child > Thanks, > Kimberly’s Mom

Fear of the dark is a pretty common one, and can last a while, or be rather short-lived.  Even *I* don’t like complete darkness, and I’m 38, lol!  A night light might help her. My dd was also scared when she heard the rain, especially at night when she couldn’t look outside to see it, but she could hear it on the roof.  We just used opportunities when it was raining during the day to hold her and talk to her about it.  I’d sit by the door with her on my lap, so she could feel secure, and watch the rain.  We also took showers with her and showed her how the shower was just like rain.  She likes water and showering, so it seemed to help. ~Nan~

Response:

How long do you think this will continue? I’m no yuppie and I comfort her but still wonder since she’s my first child Thanks, Kimberly’s Mom

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