Fear

[jacsplace]

My four-year-old son is suddenly afraid of violence on TV and insects (doesn’t matter if they’re dead or alive). We noticed this change in end-May and we can’t figure out what could have triggered it. Any other parent experienced anything similar?

[asheybrns]

Maybe it would be because, he might have seen something that might not have been something regular to him or some fierce looking animal could also be the reason. I would like to on thing, if there is any other such behavior from his end that you haven’t seen in him before?

[jacsplace]

Hi asheybrns,


Thanks very much for this reply. It's been more than a month since I posted my query so I'm really glad someone has responded :celebrate:

I can't think of other such behaviour. There was once last year when he suddenly came home from school, stuttering. He continued this for a week, then I asked his teacher. She said he was maybe copying another boy and that I shouldn't bring his attention to it and it would go away. So I did and my son did stop stuttering after a while.

We thought it's the same thing with his sudden fear but it's been more than a month and he's still fearful.

[pair]

Might be something happen with your child just ask from your child because usually kids behave like this when they are trying to hide something due to some pressure.

[cherrygal]

Dun worry. It should be a phase. Just don’t bring too much attention to it and avoid the things he has mentioned for now. Let him watch A Bug’s Life later on and tell him how cute they are. Of coz, dun show him your own fears (eg. screaming at cockroaches etc).


And you shouldn’t be showing him violent scenes on TV. He’s too young for this. I don’t even watch shows like Ch 8’s Unriddle when my kids are around.

[LOLMum]

i really cant remember if it was me or someone else (family or friends) who put this fear into dd when she was little.


you know someitmes we play games and we would take a toy or whatsoever and chase after the child and say things like "run run monster coming"…

dd cant remember too but she was very frighten of buttons when she was i think 3 or 4 yeras old. she refused to wear anything with buttons on it and cried and screamed if we took it to her.

now it is better (she has too cos there are buttons on her uniform). however she would not get any dress or tees with buttons on it. pants and skirts no choice.

[jacsplace]

Thanks all for the advice and sharings. My son has gotten over most of his fear. He still doesn’t like insects, so I try to act as his shield.

[kooky83]

Try to reason it out with him, along with letting him watch movies/cartoons involving bugs to slowly desensitize towards insects.


Try reminding him that he is about 1000x bigger than the insect itself might work.. It should be the insect that is afraid of him, and not the other way round

[Ichigokun]

I’m scared of insects myself too. xD


But I’m usually more afraid of worms like caterpillars etc. Those that wriggle around gives me the creeps. Especially earthworms. You cut them and they multiply. Yuck!!

Some of the few I’m scared of are (in order):
- Earthworms
- Hornets/Wasps
- Millipedes
- Caterpillars
- Bees
- Cockroaches
- Lizards
- Butterflies (Ya. I’m scared of butterflies :X cos when I think about them when they are just caterpillars with wings it gives me the creeps.)

[Jane422]

Fear is the beginning of wisdom. so don't give up. :xedfingers: