If you want to help your child get over a fear of the dark, then you have to show them that there’s no such thing as monsters under their bed or scary men in their closet. Don’t humor them and say, “Let me make sure there are no monsters in the closet tonight!” Instead, make it clear that it’s impossible for any monsters to ever be in the closet at all. This can help your child see that the fear is irrational.  If you play into the fear, then your children will think that there really is a chance that a monster or bad guy can be in the darkness a different night. You may think that this may be helping your child in the short term, but really, it’ll only be confirming their fears. You won’t always be there to “check under the bed” for your child; instead, you teach them to check for themselves. This will help them learn to refute the fear on their own, and eventually master it. Another way to help your child get over a fear of the dark is making sure that the child’s bedtime routine is relaxing and soothing. Make sure you have reading time before bed, avoid giving your child late-night soda or sugary treats, and help your child avoid seeing anything disturbing on the news or a late-night program that could get their imagination moving in the wrong direction. The more relaxed your children are before they go to bed, the less anxious they’ll feel about the dark.  Help your child take a warm bath or talk about relaxing topics instead of things that make your child excited. If you have a kitty, spend some time petting your favorite critter with your child so he can calm down. Work on softening your voice and speaking less emphatically. Slow down the pace of things to help get your child ready for sleep. Read a bedtime story that has a happy, positive outcome. Start dimming the lights. Make sure you really listen to your child and hear what it is that’s actually scaring him; it could be a general fear of darkness, or it can be a fear of an intruder, for example. The more you know about what’s scaring your child, the more easily you’ll be able to treat the problem. Besides, your child will feel better after talking to you about the problem.  Make sure your child isn’t ashamed of the fear. When your child is talking, make it crystal clear that there’s nothing to be ashamed about, and that everyone has fears. Help your child get creative about conquering their fears. Let them give it a name and then think of different stories and methods where they can conquer it. Help your child act out a battle with their fear that lets them feel victorious in the end. Make sure that your child feels safe and comfortable not just before going to bed, but throughout the day. Though the fact of the matter is, you won’t always be there to protect your children 100% of the time, you can still make an effort to make them feel safe and comforted. Repeat how much you love them, how you’re there for them, and make it clear that your home is safe from harm. This can help your children let go of their fears of the dark. Allow secure objects in your child’s bed and room. If your child wants his favorite blanket or a nightlight, that’s okay. Don’t think that the child needs total darkness and no blanket to conquer his fears. Your child should look at his bed as a place of comfort and safety, not a place that causes anxiety. Read books to your child in bed and make sure he or she has positive associations with it as much as you can. Just try not to spend too much time in the bed yourself, so that your child feels as comfortable and safe there as possible. Though it’s natural for you to want to protect your child, it’s more important that you give him the tools he needs to feel safe on his own in the long run. Don’t do sleepovers. Though you may think letting your child sleep in your bed can bring him comfort, this is only temporary. Encourage your child to sleep in his own bed because he’ll have to get used to it eventually. Sometimes, there may only be so much you can do to help your child get over a fear of the dark. If your child is frequently wetting the bed, waking up screaming with nightmares, or demonstrating larger anxieties and fears about other aspects of his life regularly, then seeing a doctor can help you locate and treat the sources of your child’s fears and anxieties. Don’t just assume that your child will grow out of it, and work to really give him the help he needs. If you think this is a serious problem, then the longer you wait, the more difficult it will be for your child to overcome it.
لا تقم بإثارة الذعر في نفس صغيرك. تأكد من أن روتين قبل النوم الخاص بطفلك سيسبب له الراحة. تحدث إلي صغيرك بشأن خوفه من الظلام. قم بتعزيز شعور طفلك بالأمن والطمأنينة. تأكد من شعور بالطفل بالأمان تجاه سريره. ابحث عن بعض المساعدة في حال احتجت إليها.