We all have had our sets of fears and inhibitions as a child. In fact, many of us even have certain fears as an adult. However, the fact is that as a grown-up, we can negate and invalidate our fears through logic and experience. But considering the fact that children have only begun their journey, they are more vulnerable and prone to fear, especially fear of the dark.

It is very common and, to some extent, normal if a child is scared of going alone into a dark room. It is because a child is more imaginative intrinsically, and as soon as the lights are turned off in a room, the child’s mind starts mulling over the atmosphere created by the darkness. He starts thinking that someone or something is somewhere in the room, which could be a devilish or harmful thing, which might attack them or all of a sudden appear before them.

A horde of factors could be behind this assumption of the child. It could be a horror show they watched before bedtime or even during the day, a supernatural story they read or heard from someone, or an incident which was in some way related to darkness.

At Dayawati Modi Academy, ranked among the best CBSE school in Meerut, we have seen that, generally, young children are more susceptible to such thoughts and feelings of fear. And while nobody can blame children for being so sensitive, there’s a silver lining to this dilemma. You, yes you, the parents, can efficiently and adroitly alleviate this fear of the dark in your children.

Here are some ways you can help your child fight back his/her notions of fright:

• Listen patiently:

Begin by listening to your child’s anguish patiently and calmly. You should make him feel comfortable while he describes the things or ideas he is afraid of. While doing so, listen to him carefully and attentively so that he doesn’t feel you are talking to him just for the sake of it.

• Do not negate his fears:

When he starts telling you about the monster that is lurking in some corner of the room, or something eerie under his bed, don’t ask him to look around or beneath the bed to show that there is nothing as such. And you, yourself should not inspect the surroundings as well.

Also, avoid telling the child that there is no such thing as ghosts or supernatural and that it’s just a figment of their imagination. All this can make him feel that you do not believe in him/her, thus making the child even more terrified. If that happens, the kid will stop sharing his/her feelings with you. The child will eventually become more unapproachable as he/she might fall into thinking that he/she cannot bare himself/herself open before anyone.

• Discuss it out:

Make your child feel light about the whole matter. While hearing about all his agitations, ask him some interesting questions, like “what kind of teeth that monster had? “or “what color were his clothes?” This would make him realize that it’s not a very pertinent issue, and there is nothing to be scared of in the images he has in his mind.

• Appreciate the child’s creativity

Take the things in a positive light by appreciating the child for his/her creativity. Tell the child that you are really impressed by how he can visualize such a figure. Show your child how elated you are after knowing he could fathom such stories and can go on to become a storyteller or writer. Make him take it altogether in a different vein by telling that he is such an astounding artist and a marvelous kid. This way, the child will gradually start taking pride in his own innovative capabilities.

At Dayawati Modi Academy, one of the best CBSE schools in Meerut, we firmly believe that while there’s nothing wrong with kids having their own set of fears, it is more important to teach the kids to fight their fears and rise above them. After all, we shouldn’t forget that fear is an integral feeling of everyone’s life, just like the feeling of happiness, sorrow, and excitement. Therefore, you must address this ‘ fear of the dark ‘ in our children diligently and empathetically. Doing so will empower your child and strengthen his life skills, making him mentally stronger and robust.

However, we also believe that it is equally important to never ignore the bigger problem, which could be of psychological nature. But still, even if there is such a problem, you can consult your child’s pediatrician and get medical advice too.