It's not uncommon for children to be afraid of the dark, whether they are afraid of monsters under the bed or ghosts in the wardrobe, but that doesn't mean they have to simply get on with it. Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to help them get over their fear, or at least make going to bed a lot more comforting.
Reassure them
Try to reassure them that there is nothing wrong with the dark and that there are no scary things there. Yes we agree this is a lot easier said than done but you need to at least make the effort.
Talk about how to deal with things that scare them
Help them deal with their fear by talking about what it is they are frightened of. Most kids are afraid that something could be hiding under the bed or in the wardrobe so talk about how nothing can get in or even hide in there.
Praise them
Make sure you shower them in lots of praise, especially when they manage to go to sleep with the light turned off. Once they know that there is nothing wrong with the dark they can start to get out of the habit of needing the light on.
Keep your cool
It can be pretty frustrating when your little one refuses to go to sleep because they are afraid of the dark, but you need to keep your cool. Don’t belittle their fear and always listen to their concerns.
Have a nightlight
A nightlight is often a great investment when one of the kids is afraid of the dark. It is safe to leave on all night and doesn’t project a strong light.
Give them the power to tackle their ‘monsters’
Some toddlers might benefit from being able to tackle the so-called monsters on their own. Give them a 'monster spray' or tell them that they are bigger and stronger than any bad or scary thing in the world.
Avoid late night TV
Avoid allowing your child to watch late night TV. Not only will this stimulate their brain and cause them to stay awake it will also ignite their imagination into thinking about scary things.
