children and fear

As we mature, we have no trouble understanding that if someone disappears behind a door, they continue to exist. Babies, on the other hand, have a hard time believing that something exists if they cannot see it. Playing peek-a-boo with a baby is one way to help them learn that objects are permanent. Some children also fear discipline. Discipline can be used to help raise emotionally stable, happy children. However, inconsistent discipline has been found to be confusing to children. Not overdoing discipline and helping children understand the reasons behind the discipline by explaing it to them is important. The socializing of children requires teaching them appropriate ways of expressing strong feelings, including the greatest fear: rejection. It is natural for young children to hit or bite when they feel rejected or are angry at other children. However, when children are playing, parents or caregivers should supervise closely enough to monitor how the children are behaving and be prepared to teach them appropriate social behavior. If parents do not do this, they risk their child growing up to think that such behavior is acceptable. By age five, a child's way of dealing with fears may be unique, and their strategies for coping may vary. Although a child's fear may seem irrational to some parents, it is probably normal behavior for the child. Therefore, parents may wish to practice patience when dealing with their child's fears.