11 year old cousin is afraid of the dark?!
Question: 11 year old cousin is afraid of the dark.?
Ok so my 11 year old cousin (im staying at their house tonight) is afraid of the dark and she is crying now (a lot) just because of a few mins in the dark
What should we do.? (we already are comforting her)Health Question & Answer
What should we do.? (we already are comforting her)Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Give her a night light, ask her why she is scared of the dark and prove to her that nothing is wrong. Check under her bed and in her closet so she knows nothing is there. Etc.
She obviously has big fears of what can happen in the night so show her some how that those things will not happen.Health Question & Answer
She obviously has big fears of what can happen in the night so show her some how that those things will not happen.Health Question & Answer
Sounds like it's a phobia.
If it is, it doesn't matter what you say: phobias are irrational fears and you can't explain something away if the fear isn't based in reality in the first place. Nightlights might help, but I always found nightlights weren't very bright and just cast really creepy shadows. The dark creeped me out when I was younger (heck, it still does, sometimes) so I'd just leave my door open with the hall light on - door wide open when I was really little, and less and less as I got older. Having people with me helped too.
But yeah. If she's got a dark phobia, it doesn't matter that everything in the dark is the same as in the light, or that obviously there aren't really monsters, or anything. It's like trying to explain to a two-year-old that mommy WILL come back after she steps out the door: you can talk til you're blue in the face, but it won't help much.Health Question & Answer
If it is, it doesn't matter what you say: phobias are irrational fears and you can't explain something away if the fear isn't based in reality in the first place. Nightlights might help, but I always found nightlights weren't very bright and just cast really creepy shadows. The dark creeped me out when I was younger (heck, it still does, sometimes) so I'd just leave my door open with the hall light on - door wide open when I was really little, and less and less as I got older. Having people with me helped too.
But yeah. If she's got a dark phobia, it doesn't matter that everything in the dark is the same as in the light, or that obviously there aren't really monsters, or anything. It's like trying to explain to a two-year-old that mommy WILL come back after she steps out the door: you can talk til you're blue in the face, but it won't help much.Health Question & Answer
I am far older than 11 and still afraid of the dark and NEVER am alone in the dark. I always leave a light on, whether indirect or a TV or something to illuminate my world. It is not "sissy" or a bad thing to be afraid of the dark, especially in this world of violence and TV sensationalism.
Don't belittle your cousin and let her have a night light or whatever she needs to feel secure. Everyone has fears, and this is hers. What is it truly going to hurt in the grand scheme of things.?Health Question & Answer
Don't belittle your cousin and let her have a night light or whatever she needs to feel secure. Everyone has fears, and this is hers. What is it truly going to hurt in the grand scheme of things.?Health Question & Answer
maybe giving her a nightlight will help..
or get someone to sleep in the room wit her a couple of nights
and dont do the thing where you check anywhere in the room for monsters or ghosts..because that will make her more scared cuz evry kid knows they come out when your alone.Health Question & Answer
or get someone to sleep in the room wit her a couple of nights
and dont do the thing where you check anywhere in the room for monsters or ghosts..because that will make her more scared cuz evry kid knows they come out when your alone.Health Question & Answer
I believe in manipulation in which I would do so as to make your cousin stronger. Give her a flashlight and tell her if you shine the light at any scary creature, it will run away and never come back.Health Question & Answer
flashlight/nightlight, or leave the light on!Health Question & Answer