Most kids will actually outgrow fear of the dark by ages 4 to 5, helped along with some specific strategies. But about 20% of kids will have a persistent fear of the dark. “It's not always so easy to unlearn those startled, anxious, fearful responses,” said Mabe.
“Reassure your child that his fear of the dark is normal,” Dobbins says. “But don't get frustrated just because you know what he's afraid of doesn't really exist. Don't say this is stupid or belittle or tease. While the monsters may not be real, the fear is.”
Being afraid of the dark is a very common complaint among young children. You can help your child overcome this fear by listening to him or her, reading a story, problem solving and praising.
Let your children know that you understand that they are scared and that it is normal to have a fear of the dark. Explain to your children that the dark is scary only because we can't see what is around us. When we can't see what is around us – our imagination can make us worry about things that aren't there.
Not being able to see as well "increases anxiety, uncertainty and tension and this can lead to fear of the dark in any age group," explained Dr. Gene Beresin, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the executive director of the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds at Massachusetts General Hospital.
If your child is afraid of the dark, they're not alone. “It's very common in children and adolescents alike,” says Thomas Ollendick, a distinguished professor emeritus at the Child Study Center at Virginia Tech who has dedicated much of his career to understanding fears and phobias in children.
Being afraid of the dark is often associated with childhood, mostly occurring in children ages 6 to 12, according to the Cleveland Clinic. But it's not uncommon for the issue to continue into adulthood.
This phobia is very common among children but can affect people of all ages. People with this specific anxiety disorder may have trouble sleeping, have panic attacks and may avoid leaving the house after dark. Providers treat nyctophobia with therapy if a fear of the dark is disturbing daily life.
“There are many adults who are still afraid of the dark and this all comes down to a fear of the unknown. It's a perfectly normal fear to have and it's no surprise that it's a fear that begins in childhood,” Dr Westrupp says. “We don't always lose our fear of the dark and for good reason.
Encourage an active lifestyle
If your child has had an active day, you may find it easier to put them to sleep without even needing a bedtime story, let alone giving them the chance to ask for a spot in your bed. But be careful to not have any energetic activities within two-three hours before going to bed.
It's not the darkness that's scary
…it's the inability to see any potential threats lurking. The dark leaves us feeling vulnerable and exposed to whatever is around us that we can't see. When kids go to bed, they have fewer distractions to preoccupy their minds, so instead their imagination runs wild.
"Try a gradual approach to help the child face more and more of their fear through decreased lighting (a night light) or increased time/distance apart from Mom or Dad, until eventually the child is OK being alone in darkness throughout the night," adds Dr. Silverman.
Consider sources of daily stress.
Kids who suffer from daytime anxieties—about school, separation from parents, or other concerns—are more likely to fear the dark and fear sleeping alone (Gregory and Eley 2005). You may be able to reduce your child's nighttime fears by helping him cope with daytime stress.
Being afraid of the dark isn't unusual for children (and even some grownups.
As a toddler's imagination begins to really develop rapidly between 2 and 3 years old, the line between fantasy and reality is blurred, and this is when we see the first fears of the dark begin.
Most fears are a normal, natural part of childhood. However, if a child is afraid all the time, or has fears that stop them from having fun or interfere with their daily life, this could be a sign of anxiety and it may be time to get some professional help.
Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of having peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth. Arachibutyrophobia is a rare phobia that involves a fear of getting peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth.
What Does It Mean to Fear Long Words? Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words. Understanding the phobia can help you overcome it and live a fulfilling life. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary, and ironically, it means the fear of long words.
It's the loss of control of the environment that breeds that sort of fear. Evolution has taught us it is better to see and identify possible threats and because of that, humans have been using light sources to make their way through the dark for a very long time. It's probably pretty normal to be afraid of the dark.
It's a widespread phobia, especially in children. Up to 45% of children experience phobia, and nyctophobia is one of the most common, particularly in children between 6 and 12. Many children outgrow nyctophobia, but some don't. Nyctophobia is more than just being afraid of the dark.
The rate of successful treatment for specific phobias like nyctophobia is about 90%. 4 Many techniques for nyctophobia treatment are drawn from the cognitive-behavioral school of therapy.
Scopophobia is a persistent fear of being watched or stared at. While many people may feel some level of anxiety when they are the center of attention, these feelings are exaggerated and out of proportion to the situation for people with scopophobia.
Fear of death is common among children. In fact, most kids will experience fearful thoughts about death at some point in their lives.