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Is Your Child Scared of the Dark? Tips to Overcome the Fear (Giveaway!)

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Being scared of the dark is a very common thing for children (and let’s be real, for adults as well). There is something so disarming about not being able to see very well, and when you have a great imagination, as children often do, those shadows in the room can quickly become very VERY scary monsters. Here’s what has worked for us to nip our 3 1/2 year old’s fear in the bud.

3 tips to help kids who are scared of the dark

1. Monsters have been officially banned from our city. This is one of our favorite stories to tell Darah before bed. It is an intricate tale Tim has spun, all about the time that Darah’s PaPa (that’s my dad) came to Chattanooga and fought off all of the monsters, and then banned them from ever returning. She gets a kick out of the story, and it gives her a lot of peace of mind to know that it just isn’t possible for monsters to be not only in her house, but anywhere in the whole city. After all, the Mole Kings of Lookout Mountain stay on guard to make sure no monsters sneak in (told you it was an intricate story!).

2. Name objects in the room with the lights on. This has been one of the most helpful things we’ve done, for sure! Darah seems especially frightened by the shadows cast in her closet, which doesn’t have a door on it to maximize space. We take just a moment to point out the items in her closet and exactly what they are so she can see them. Then we turn off the light and show her how it looks different. Then turn the light back on again and continue pointing out other “questionable” objects until she is satisfied. After we did this a few days in a row, she doesn’t ask for us to do this very often anymore. Highly effective!

help your child not be scared of the dark with the munchkin night light

3. Empower your child with a portable nightlight. Darah has been using the Munchkin Light My Way Light and absolutely loving it. Not only does it have cute owl design that is fun, but it also has a handle so she can tote it around. She not only has it in her bed at night time, but she also using it in her forts throughout the day or when she is pretending to explore underwater caverns like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Darah can turn on the light, which has a soft glow, any time she is feeling unsure. It seems to give her a lot of peace of mind, and empowers her to help herself feel better rather than relying on grownups to come in the room and reassure her. In short, it is a very powerful tool, and for the help it provides, it is a complete steal at $11.99 at Target and it is also available on Amazon.

If your little one is scared of the dark, I encourage you to give these tactics a try. They have helped us tremendously so that night time is no longer a cause for anxiety, and that is making everyone in the house rest a bit easier.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a Munchkin Light My Way Light!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary product for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This post may contain affiliate links. 

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Comments

  40. I’d like to see a review of the Xtraguard Safety Lock Plug Coverslip. I’m always looking for child proofing products for my place.

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  81. I think the Toddler plates are really cute. I wonder if they’re durable as well.
    jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

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  82. I think my daughter would love the nightlight. I got her a toy flash light to help her get over her fears. It was shaped like the pig from Toy Story and it scared her! I think the Mozart Magic Cube would be a hit too.

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  93. Another item I would like to see reviewed is probably Fresh Food Chopper & Steamer because I am curious to know how well it works.

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  98. Would also like to see a review of the Arm and Hammer Nursery Freshners, do they work are they worth the extra mone,etc????

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  99. I like the 5 pack multi colored bowls, my granddaughters love snacks and these would be perfect and they come in different colors..

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