Is Your Kiddo Afraid of the Dark? Tell a New Bedtime Story
Your kiddo is growing like a weed right in front of your eyes and so is their imagination!
Sometimes the things kids imagine can cause fear and this is especially true when it comes to being in the dark and getting ready for bedtime. In fact, being in the dark is one of the most commonly reported fears in children ages 5-12.
To express this fear, you may notice bursts of energy and fidgeting at bedtime that make it hard for your kiddo to fall asleep.
Helping your kiddo to stimulate their mind during the day can reduce fidgeting when it's time to wind down in the evening.
One thing you can do during the day to make bedtime easier is to make sure they are staying physically active for at least 60-minutes a day to exhaust pent up energy and allow their imagination to soar. (If getting outside isn’t an option, indoor dance parties are a good way to get moving!)
Another way to deal with fidgeting and fear at bedtime is to get creative and help your kiddo channel their imagination by creating a new story about the dark. Here’s how:
Create A Bedtime Story
Ask your kiddo what scares them about the dark.
Have them create a character that lives in the darkness.
Next, have your kiddo imagine themselves as a big, strong hero!
Ask them to tell you how they can defeat the darkness character they created.
Ask them how it will feel when they are not as scared of the darkness any more.
If they continue to feel afraid of the dark, remind them how they can defeat the darkness by being brave and facing their fears!
For an added bonus, create new stories often with your kiddo that help make the dark a little less scary.