Fears are part of childhood. Fear of the dark, fear of going to the doctor, fear of getting lost... It is one of the most powerful emotions and has a clear biological meaning: it helps us to be cautious, cautious and not expose ourselves to unnecessary risk situations. But how can we address childhood fears and distinguish them from a more serious problem?
From the moment we are born, emotions are part of our development process as human beings. Learning to regulate them on our way to adulthood is a fundamental pillar of our social adaptation, but also a key element in our mental health.
As they grow, children develop different fears depending on their age. One of the first to appear is separation anxiety. It emerges when they are babies and begin to become aware of themselves as separate from their mother.
Over the years, fears related to imagination and play appear, such as fear of the dark or monsters. They are natural emotions that should not worry us, but we should not leave them unattended either.
If you detect that your little one is afraid or is going through a moment of anxiety, downplaying it or directly rejecting it can cause more problems than it solves.
The first thing we must do is recognize fear as such and value it. Verbalizing it, expressing empathy and reassuring the child is a good strategy so that she can identify her emotions and learn what causes them. In addition, offering him that comfort will make him feel accompanied and he will begin to develop tools that help him comfort himself.
Creating routines also helps children know what to expect and feel safe and secure. What is predictable gives them confidence and is a starting point so that, little by little, they can confront these childhood fears and appease them.
There are times when fear goes from being a natural regulation tool and becomes a psychological problem that we must attend to. In the case of children, there are some behaviors that will set off our alarm bells:
If these cases occur and do so with some regularity, it is time for you to consider consulting with a specialist who can offer you support and tools in this process. The main thing is to accompany the minor to give them confidence, understanding and a safe environment in which to confront the problem and find a solution.
