Is it normal for a 9 year old to be scared of the dark?

Is it normal for a 9 year old to be scared of the dark?

Fear of the dark is a common and typical fear for most children. Fear of the dark usually starts to crop up in toddlerhood. When children’s cognitive abilities expand – so does their imagination! For some kids, this fear never goes away.

How do I stop my child being scared at night?

Strategies for Overcoming Nighttime Fears

1. What is your child afraid of?
2. Do not support belief in your child’s imaginative creatures.
3. Reassure your child’s safety.
4. Work on building up your child’s self-confidence and coping skills.
5. Keep the bedtime routine ‘light,’ happy, and fun.
6. Allow nightlights and security objects.

What are 9 year old scared of?

Some common childhood fears are:

• Being alone.
• The dark.
• Dogs or other big animals.
• Bugs.
• Heights.
• Getting shots or going to the doctor.
• Unfamiliar or loud noises.
• Imaginary monsters — the “thing” under the bed, etc.

Is it normal for a 10 year old to be afraid of the dark?

It is quite common and natural for a child to be afraid of the dark. Fears that keep a 12-year-old from going upstairs sound more severe than normal. The fact that her fear is impacting her ability to perform normal activities (by keeping her on the main floor after dark) is worrisome.

How do you know if a child has anxiety?

Symptoms of anxiety in children

1. finding it hard to concentrate.
2. not sleeping, or waking in the night with bad dreams.
3. not eating properly.
4. quickly getting angry or irritable, and being out of control during outbursts.
5. constantly worrying or having negative thoughts.
6. feeling tense and fidgety, or using the toilet often.

How can I help my 9 year old sleep through the night?

Allow your child to self-regulate his or her bedtime: Your job as a parent is to put your children to bed– not to make them go to sleep. Keep wake-up time consistent with an alarm clock. If a child can’t sleep, allow him or her to read in bed. Keep the room lights dim or off.

Why is my child scared of going to bed?

Consider sources of daily stress. Kids who suffer from daytime anxieties—about school, separation from parents, or other concerns—are more likely to fear the dark and fear sleeping alone (Gregory and Eley 2005). You may be able to reduce your child’s nighttime fears by helping him cope with daytime stress.

Why is my child afraid to sleep alone?

How can I help my 9 year old with anxiety?

Here are 9 ideas straight from that program that parents of anxious children can try right away:

1. Stop Reassuring Your Child.
2. Highlight Why Worrying is Good.
3. Bring Your Child’s Worry to Life.
4. Teach Your Child to Be a Thought Detective.
5. Allow Them to Worry.
6. Help Them Go from What If to What Is.

Can a 9 year old have anxiety?

Children can develop fears and phobias at any age, but they are especially common during early childhood, and again during puberty. Infants can appear to be upset, to be irritable and sleepless, but in very small children, such behaviour is more likely to be caused by hunger, cold, and physical diseases than anxiety.

What to do when your child is scared at night?

Leaving your child’s door open at bedtime can also create a sense of comfort and alleviate fear that is associated with separation from parents at bedtime. A pet for companionship (preferably an animal that does not sleep in the bed; a fish tank is a great option) can also provide security at night and reduce nighttime fear.

What to do if your child is afraid of the dark?

If a fear of the dark or going to bed is preventing your child from falling asleep or sleeping through the night, you may consider some of the following recommendations to help reduce your child’s fear during the night and help him / her to get better sleep. It is important to understand your child’s fears.

Why does my 7 year old have anxiety?

Anxiety in 7year old at bedtime, separation. Anxiety in younger children has become more and more of a problem due to increased academic pressures placed on them. If anxiety has not been a problem since recently it can reflect a ”regression” due to trauma or a specific recent experience that has been unsettling.

How to deal with fear and anxiety in children?

Get a prescription ASAP or up the melatonin for him (confirming w pediatrician) and in the meantime, one parent sleeps in a different room with a locked door in order to be rested the next day. Take turns with that. Step #2: Your CBT-lite approach with talking about the fears & mindfulness app is fine.