How to address my daughter's fear?
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Hi there,
Simply encourage her and lead her in dealing with the wolf in this play. Children are very impressionable as you know. If you will have some (even very little) control in this upcoming situation she will follow your lead, you're her Daddy. Otherwise ditch the wolf thing all together.
If she is a passive recipient to this play, talk the issues in the play over with her, break it down so she can undestand and please allow her to protect her own ego. So if she cries, screams etc. let her have her way and encourage and reassure her that you are her protector and will be there to protect her. If 'a scene' on her part is going to be too embassing for you, find some alternative enjoyment this week.
Good luck and God bless. Hope this has helped.
Barry H
Back off and ditch the play. At 4 years old the play is for the grown ups. Do something else.
get rid of the wolf from the play don't underestimate the mind of a 4 year old
I agree with Jim either have them change the play or ditch it all together. Most kids that age are having a hard time separating fact from fantasy. That's one reason that children that age get scared if they see say Dora the explorer life size, they are used to seeing a tiny picture on a small tv screen and than to have her all of a sudden become bigger than they are is very scare to them. If you daughter is afraid of wolfs than just wait for her to become a little older than you can show her pictures of real wolves and explain that they don't' eat people and that they don't live where most people live unless you're in the Colorado mountains or in another mountain range.
Since you know she has a fear of wolves now, the most compassionate thing to do would be to not have the wolf play at the party. She will most likely grow out of her fear in time.
I agree with those that suggest you do not follow through with the play involving a wolf. All you would do is reinforce her fear. You are "her protector" in her world. You need to reassure her constantly, that she is safe, and that you will never let a wolf "get her", and no harm will ever come to her. If you can not convince her that the story was "make believe", then I suggest you take her to a child psychologist. If her behavior changes, such as nightmares, loss of appetite, and she becomes withdrawn or afraid to be separated from you, then let a professional handle this issue. The play, if you permit it, could traumatize her even more. I am sure you do not want her to be frightened any more than she already is.
Tell her to not be a fraid and that the play costed u alot of money and that if she starts crying or sumthing u will give her a spankin and that if she says daddy im scared slap her in the mouth and tell her to shut the he..l up..it worked with my sisters when she was afraid of spiders .
Personally, i would change the play or use a diffent animal rather than a wolf. Childrens fear exstends from the smallest of things to bigger things and as you say she is only 4 she is too young to overcome this fear within this short period.
There is nothing for now that you can do to tame this fear, if you approach her now to try and calm her worries she will only back off and become more afraid of wolves. Try to see it from your point of view. Think of something that really makes your skin crawl and you just cant stand.....Lets say spiders for example. Alot of adults are affraid of spiders wether they are the big ones or small ones, yet some people freeze in fear if they see one. Imagine you dont like spiders (this maybe true), you have six days to overcome this fear right? Its not going to happen. Now think about your 4 year old, her memory will only remember the scarey side of the wolf that her brain tells her to fear, to try within 6 days to break this will strick more fear into her and COULD cause her to fear them for the rest of her life and into adulthood. As wolves are also seen as dogs this can also cause her to have a fear of larger dogs when shes older. You really need to change the play or atleast the animal.
If you want my help to help her overcome this fear i am more than happy to help you and explain what needs to be done. I work with people who have alsorts of fears and phobias, adults are alot harder to help but children are very easy if its done correctly and its a very simple technique. Just message me.
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