9781422280607

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Fear of the Dark

preschool years are when our imaginations are really fired up. Kids under six can’t always tell what’s real and what isn’t. That means they are more likely to believe in scary things like monsters and ghosts. It also means that if they hear a noise, kids can easily imagine a whole list of terrifying things that the sound could be. Night-lights can help, as can security objects like stuffed animals or favorite blankets. Families also can do a lot to reassure their younger members—see chapter four for more on this. Growing Out of It . . . or Not As kids get older, they learn that there is definitely no monster under the bed. By the time kids are starting school, most are no longer super scared of

Some adults are afraid of the dark, but they often fear burglars rather than monsters.