As a baby your baby likely didn’t fear much of anything, however as your child develops and becomes a toddler you may notice new fears emerging which may include fear of separation, darkness, doctors, strangers, noises, dogs, insects or other animals. These are all common fears for toddlers. Your toddler may also have an unusual fear that arose from some individual experience, regardless fear are managed in basically the same way despite the fear.

Step one is to identify the fear. Toddlers sometimes are not the best communicators in the world. They often just cannot say, “This scares me”. You will have to pay attention to what is happening or around when your toddler becomes frightened and single out the X factor.

Next, address that fear. Let your toddler know you understand what scares him or her and start trying to defuse that fear. For example if your toddler is afraid of the dark, tell stories, play games, and talk about how the dark is not dangerous. Be sure to give your toddler the opportunity to try to express him or herself back about their fear in whatever way they can whether that be verbally, by action, or even by coloring.

While doing this find ways to minimize your child’s exposure to the said fear. In the fear of darkness example, for example you could leave a night light on. Alternatively, in the case of fear of separation try not to be gone for long periods of time and always say good bye and explain where you are going and when you’ll be back. You can also offer a comfort object. Something that your child can use like a “safe spot” in the game of tag. This often a blanket or stuffed animal given for comfort and security.

Do not try and force the child to become unafraid. Back to the fear of the dark example, don’t put your child in a dark room and shut the door and let him or her cry it out. This will not help end the fear, in fact it will likely make it worse.

In the case of toddlers it is less about getting the child to face his or her fears and more about managing them until an age where facing them is more realistic. You will also be happy to know that many toddlers outgrow their fears before facing them is ever necessary.