Your 2-Year-Old: Taming Fears
Taming Fears
Most preschoolers go through a fearful phase. Sometimes fears are short-lived — for example, a new loud vacuum. Other fears seem to spring from nowhere and stick around. And some children have temperaments that make them more prone to fears than others. The general rule is to treat the fear respectfully. After all, it's very real to your child. Then look for child-centered ways (as opposed to adult-level logic) to provide reassurance.
說到「馴服恐懼」，小馨真的是被我嚇大的！每晚睡前我都跟她說有虎姑婆、大野狼，她就會乖乖閉起眼睛睡覺，過年期間，也跟她說有「年獸」，才讓她乖乖穿上紅色的衣服，鞭炮則是嚇跑年獸的東西....這小妞對於媽咪說的話深信不疑。
Your 2-year-old now
A lively imagination often gives temporary birth to monsters, dragons, ghosts, and other mysterious creatures of the dark. Fear of the dark is common as a child's mind becomes capable of inventing its own stories. (You can actually think of night fears — the result of an overactive imagination — as a sophisticated cognitive development.)
To help calm your child:
•Take the fear seriously. Never belittle it or make fun of your child's fantasy.
•Skip the logic. A patient explanation that there's no way a monster could live in the closet but only at night won't wash.
•Look at the room from your child's viewpoint. Maybe there's a weird shadow that really does look like a spiderweb.
•Try some light. The reassuring glow of a nightlight or a light in the hallway has vanquished many a scary creature.
•Give a little extra TLC. Often fears reflect some other anxiety in your child's life; she might just want some hugs and snuggles. A happy and secure bedtime routine before your child is tucked in is important, too.
Your life now
Getting bored serving the same old snacks? Jazz up old standbys by cutting sliced cheese into shapes with cookie cutters or spreading peanut butter on a tortilla instead of bread and rolling it up. Serve pint-size versions of grown-up favorites, such as fruit smoothies made with yogurt and served with a sippy straw. Or go cold: Mash up berries and mix in a little water, then freeze in ice-pop molds.
