Most children will struggle with fears of one kind or another at different times throughout their childhood. “Fears are 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.

More information on childhood fears & phobias:

See also:

  • Fear of death (This link takes you to our death & bereavement book.)
  • Fear of the dentist (this link takes you to our Health & Medical area.)