Childhood Fears

Fears are common between 2 and 4 years of age and many of them are presented as fear of animals, especially dogs. At about 6 years old, it is common that children fear the dark, storms or doctors. Many of these fears disappear as the child grows and loses his sense of impotence. The reasons why they feel so many fears in this period of his life, can be found in the intense fantasy that characterizes it, and the inability of children to distinguish "the simulated? of reality. Older children feel other fears. Between 8 and 12 years old, when they understand the cause-effect relationship is more likely to fear bodily injury and physical hazards, while between 4 and 6 years may be afraid of strangers or "ugly ?. Frightening images of a TV or violent movies can help keep anxieties. Sometimes the imagination of children makes them feel attacked by an animal or abandoned, however, some of these fears stem from the assessment of real dangers (such as being bitten by a dog) or actual events (when a child has witnessed or has been involved in a traffic accident, it is possible to generate fear of cars or across the street).

At this age children have accumulated more knowledge and experience, and know that there are many things to which they must fear.

It is not entirely clear, because some fears disappear and others persist. Apparently the reactions of adults play an important role in these situations. Parents must accept that fears are normal, reassure and encourage children to express their fears without ridicule or punishment. No child should be allowed to avoid the object of their fears, because this behavior does not allow the fear disappears. Some children can transform their fears into aggression, however they may manifest differently in early childhood. These are the most common fears and fears at different stages of childhood: From 0 to 6 months: Loss of support, the sound of 7 to 12 months: Strangers, height, sudden onset of threatening objects Year to: Separation parents, injuries, toilet, weird At 2 years: Loud noises, animals, dark rooms, separation from parents, large objects or machines, personnel changes in the environment. At 3 years: Masks, dark, animals, separation from parents. From 4 to 5 years: Sounds night, darkness, physical injury, "bad people? From 6 to 8 years: supernatural beings (witches, ghosts), lightning and thunder, loneliness, personal injury.

From 9 to 12 years: school and tests, school performance, physical appearance, bodily injury, death, darkness.

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