Most children will struggle with fears of one kind or another at different times throughout their childhood. “Fear in children can actually natural and helpful developmental milestones,” says Betsy Brown Braun, author of Just Tell Me What To Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents. “They help kids work out issues that are part of growing up.” (Hill, 2010) New fears often appear just as children are in the midst of making a developmental leap, whether that leap be a greater understanding of how the world works or newfound independence that leaves them feeling scared, insecure or vulnerable.
Of course, some of these fears can drive parents absolutely bonkers – especially when your child crawled out of bed for the fifth night in a row to escape a monster that, as you’ve already explained 4 other times, can’t exist. So for your sanity, we’ve assembled this information to help parents and caretakers address just about every fear a child may come down with.
Fear & phobias in children:
- Common Childhood Fears
- Fearful & Anxious Children: Why Kids Become Fearful
- Are Fears In Children A Sign Of Abuse?
- Children Afraid Of People Of Different Races
- Dealing With A Children’s Fears
- Helping Children Overcome Their Fears
- Fear Of Animals In Children
- Arachnophobia: Fear Of Spiders In Children
- Children Who Fear The Bathtub, Toilet, Or Drains
- Children Who Are Afraid Of Amputees & People With Disabilities
- Fear Of Bees & Wasps In Children
- Fear Of Bugs & Insects In Children
- Claustrophobia In Children
- Children Who Fear Clowns Or People In Costumes
- Fear Of The Dark In Children
- Fear of the Doctor in Children
- Fear Of Dogs In Children
- Fear Of Failure in Children
- Fear Of Flying In Children & Adults
- Fear Of Food In Children
- Germophobia & Fear Of Germs In Children
- Fear Of Heights In Children
- Hypochondria & Fear Of Illness In Children
- Fear Of Loud Noises In Children
- Fear Of Monsters In Children
- Children Who Are Afraid Of People
- Children Who Fear Police & Other People In Uniform
- Fear Of School In Children
- Children Afraid of Strangers & Crowds
- Children Afraid Of Thunderstorms & Lightning
- Children Afraid Of Vomiting, Choking, or Swallowing
- Fear Of Water In Children
See also:
- Anxiety disorders in children (this link takes you to our child mental health area)
- Fear of the dentist (this link takes you to our Health & Medical area.)

