5 Ways to Ease a Child's Nighttime Fears, Posted on Elephant Journal
In our most humanistic basic state, at any given moment we are either living in a fear and survival mode or a loving and thriving state.
Since it’s rarely 50/50, whichever feeling takes precedence ends up easily controlling our thoughts and emotions.
For children, bedtime routines and consistency equate to comfort. It is one way to ensure they feel safe in their bodies and in their space.
Feeling safe when going to sleep is a key component to REM sleep, which is the first and last stages of completing a full sleep cycle. If REM sleep is disturbed in some way, the body will continue to try and make-up that loss, thus skipping the deep sleep stages or waking early.
It’s no wonder a child who isn’t sleeping well may be moody!
I’ve never met a parent who isn’t trying to make sure their child feels safe, yet it’s hard to understand what constitutes fear in the mind of a child. It ranges from something they see to something they hear. Children tend to have astute senses and pick-up more than we do during the course of a day.
When the sky becomes dark and the lights go out, children become more in-tune with their own fears and this can rattle their sense of safety. As parents it is our responsibility to respond with empathy and compassion, rather then propelling or dismissing their thoughts.
The best fear-buster for your child can have is you.
Here are five tips to help you help your little ones release fear...