It’s no secret that lots of kids don’t like bedtime. Sometimes it seems they’ll do anything not to hit the sheets. They ask for a glass of water … another story … reassurance that there are no monsters in the closet. It's obvious that your child is nervous. How can you help children manage their anxiety, especially when you might not fully understand their bedtime-related worries?
It’s important to know that a lot of night-time fears are directly related to the dark. As children learn more about danger, their fear of the dark increases. If you think your child’s unease at bedtime is due to her fear of the dark, you’re probably wondering what you can do. According to Dr. Jane Nelsen, Ed. D., co-author of Positive Discipline A-Z, it’s a good idea to get your child to open up about their fears. Talking can help them think everything through. “The more capable a child feels, the less likely she is to be afraid,” Dr. Nelsen said in a recent parents.com article. But keep in mind how active kids' imaginations can be -- you might not be able to rationalize their fears. As parents, all we can do is be patient and really listen to kids' concerns, whatever they may be.
We've come up with additional ideas to help to chase those monsters out of the closet:
– Shine some light on the problem: Create a comfortable environment for your child by getting them a nightlight. When they can see what is beyond their bed, the dark will no longer be such a frightening mystery.
– Get crafty: According to clinical psychologist Madeleine Nathan, Ph.D., giving your child “magic” tools to banish “magical” creatures might help. Just like in Judy Blume’s “Fudge” book series, you could make some “Monster Spray." Get an inexpensive spray bottle and fill it with water. Label it as “Monster Spray” and explain to your child that this spray repels monsters instantly.
– Poetic license: You could come up with a funny rhyme to banish the bogeyman. Tell your child that the rhyme is an enchantment used by wizards against night-time creatures. Once the rhyme is recited, check the closet or under the bed and show your child how his words scared any monsters away.
When coming up with solutions to the "monster under the bed" problem, you can also draw on books you have read with your child. For example, kids probably already know that the Paper Bag Princess defeated the dragon (The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch), and that Max was made king of the “Wild Things” (Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak) – in short, that monsters are what we make them … and they can be put in their place.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the child vs. monster conflict, we’ve found the perfect book to put your child’s night-time fears to bed. Penelope and the Monsters, by Sheri Radford, is a particularly clever – and, we might add, FUN – story. This comical twist on bedtime fears is recommended for children ages 4 to 6, but we're pretty sure the entire family (parents included!) will go nuts for Penelope's antics.
Hailed by parents and teachers alike, Penelope and the Monsters was Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice Selection, and was a finalist for both the Ontario Library Association’s Blue Spruce Award and the B.C. Chocolate Lily Book Award. This second book in the "Penelope" series features the young heroine in her toughest problem yet: convincing her parents that she will "never, ever, not in a million trillion gazillion years, go to sleep." She is certain that monsters are making her dresser drawers dance, her closet door creak, and her bed bounce. But to prove her point, she has to confront the strange beings that seem to have made her room their own. According to Resource Links, the strength of Penelope and the Monsters is the portrayal of a “role model of a child demonstrating strength to take control of her own fears." Trust us, by the end of this book, your little reader will be ready for bed, proudly proclaiming, "I will never, ever, not in a million trillion gazillion years be afraid of monsters again!”
Find all three “Penelope” books, including Penelope and the Monsters, at www.mommypicks.com. **
