Hi Mumma and Daddy,
I get scared of new things, like the dark or loud sounds. That’s okay, right? It helps when you listen to me and comfort me. Here’s how you can help me feel safe and brave when I’m worried.
Take My Fears Seriously
When I tell you I’m scared, please listen and let me know it’s okay to feel this way. If I’m scared of the vacuum, you can say, “It’s okay to be scared. The vacuum is noisy, but it won’t hurt you.” That makes me feel understood and supported in my emotional development.
Talk About My Fears When I'm Calm
We should talk about what scares me when I'm not scared. You could say that the dark is just like the day, but without the light, during the day. It helps me understand and feel less scary, which is important for getting over my fears.
Practice and Role Play
I can face my fears in a fun way when we play pretend games. We can play doctor at home, and I can be the doctor if I'm scared of the doctor. This makes me feel more in charge and less scared, which helps me deal with my fears.
Use Books to Help Me
It makes me feel better to read stories about people who get over their fears. Seeing them face and get over their fears gives me strength and helps my toddler's nervousness.
Teach Me About Rational and Irrational Fears
You can explain why some fears are valid and others are not. I want to know that the vacuum is safe, so show me how it works. It helps me understand and stop being scared, which is good for my mental growth as a whole.
Let Me Face My Fears in Small Steps
If I’m scared of baths, let me play with water in a bowl first. Gradually, I’ll get used to it and won’t be scared anymore. This can work with other fears too, helping me learn effective comforting strategies.
Sometimes, Avoid the Cause
If something really scares me a lot, like the dark, maybe using a nightlight can help until I feel braver. It’s okay to avoid things that make me too scared until I’m ready, as this is part of supporting toddlers through their fears.
Thanks for helping me feel safe and brave, Mumma and Pa. Your support means everything to me.
Let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to adjust!