Click2Houston.com - Health - Parents Can Help Children... -
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Published on: 12/3/2004
Last Visited: 12/3/2004
"Childhood fears are very common and they're normal," said Dr. Liza Bonin, a child psychologist at Texas Children's Hospital.
"Your job as a parent is to help the child develop the sense that they're competent and can handle the fears," Bonin said.
Bonin said parents play an important role in a child's developing and maintaining fears.
First, they should be a good example, according to Bonin.
"Children learn by watching their parents," Bonin said.
A parent's own fears can easily be transferred to children.Also, parents should watch how they react to their child's fears.
"If children are feeling scared at night and parents sleep with them, that sends the message that the kid was not safe to be alone," Bonin said.
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Bonin said that is the right thing to do.
It helps children learn to manage their fears on their own.
"That might mean that they can manage the nightlight.They can assign where it will be.They can have what they want in their bedroom," Bonin said.
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Bonin said when fear and anxiety start to interfere with your child's life, such as sleep, school and friendships, then it's a problem and professional help might be needed.