Parents should take children's fears seriously

Parents should not dismiss fears of children

05/06/2012

„You do not need to be afraid of that“, Parents often tell when children talk about their fears. However, just that saying is wrong to take children's fears, as reported by the Professional Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (BKJPP). Rather, parents should take the child's anxiety seriously and look for reasons together.

Even children have fears. Often these are dismissed by the adult world with the words, „You do not have to be scared“. Instead of appeasing, parents should rather respond to fears and take them seriously. As trusted adults do not argue the fears away but offer guidance, they are the best way to help children overcome their fears. In the next step, parents should suggest to their children to search together for the causes and to get to the bottom of the fear, says Ingo Spitczok from Brisinski of the Professional Association for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (BKJPP). However, this is often not easy: Not always, the little ones can talk openly about their worries.

Sleep disorders and abdominal pain as an indication of anxiety
Instead, many children respond with conspicuous behaviors in which they often cling, suffer from sleep disorders, or complain of physical symptoms such as abdominal pain, headaches, or similar nonorganic discomfort.

Fears differ according to age. Babies are usually afraid of strangers, one-year-olds fear the loss of their parents. Children from age 3 to 4 sometimes have fears of being alone, storming, animals or darkness. Mostly the anxious stages in childhood are only very short-lived.

When the ages have passed and the youngest have become accustomed to the circumstances, most children lose their fears. If parents observe that the fears continue to be pronounced, the professional help of a child and adolescent therapist or specialist should be sought. (Sb)

Picture: Alexandra H.