Child's fears

Posted by Yara Anabtawi on August 03, 1999 at 05:05:34
My daughter is 5 years old.  She is very sensitive and she is scared of anything that is new or is out of the norm.  For example, when batteries are low in a toy that makes music, and it sounds different, she panics and runs away from the toy.  She is very scared of things getting old or things breaking.  She asks many questions about death.  We haven't had any close family deaths but because of her questions, I read to her a book about death that is targeted to explain death to children.  That caused her to be even more fearful and sometimes she cries frantically and tells me that she doesn't want me or her to die.  She is very reluctant to go on amusement park rides or do things that she hasn't seen or tried before.  My daughter generally enjoys quiet activities and pretend games and can spend hours playing by herself.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help her overcome her fears and make her more brave.

Posted by HVMA Ph.D. - KDK on August 07, 1999 at 09:06:50
Dear Ms. Anabtawi,
Your daughter may well by temperament be at the anxious/shy end of the spectrum. Often such children are quite sensitive to concerns that are actually very normal for her age; they simply respond in a somewhat exaggerated fashion. The key issue is whether her behavior of late represents a change from the usual, or is a continuation of a temperament that has been evident with her 'from the start'. It's probably the latter, and if this is true it's best to offer her encouragement and support, but not to make strenuous efforts to alter her personality makeup. If you have the sense that her anxiety or fearfulness is extreme, discuss the matter with her pediatrician. A consultation with a child mental health clinician can help you to evaluate the situation if it indeed seems like your daughter is anxious or fearful to an extraordinary degree.
The information in this forum is provided for purposes of general education. Always address particular questions about your child's health to your pediatrician or health care providers.
*Keyword: Fears, Anxiety, Temperament