Scared of puppets and people dressed up....when do they grow out of it?

[ETsmum]

My ds is 3.7 and after a bad experience watching "Caterpillar" at the weekend (aimed at 3-7 yo's) and playschool telling me he was in tears over a puppet this am, is it still "normal" to be so upset by these things at his age? He used to be A LOT worse, scared of other children in his personal space etc, but has improved loads since starting playschool just over a year ago.

I could understand if he was lacking in imagination - ie if he couldn't understand these things aren't real - but he comes out with brilliant stories and make believe play......just feeling at a bit of a loss as I worry he'll miss out on other things children his age seem to find fun. Is it maybe a confidence thing, and if so how can I help him? (give lots of praise etc already.)

[FrayedKnot]

I would have thought being scared of this type of thing totally normal at his age?

I have a feeling that children with good imaginations find these things more scary than less so.

[gingernut]

ds1 was still very scared of things like that until quite recently (he is now 5).

Don't know whether that is normal though .

[ETsmum]

Thanks I thought it was probably pretty normal, but having a bit of a confidence crisis There must have been about 40 other children at this show on Sat (admittedly some older) and they all just sat there and even laughed at the funny bits! I had tears, and "mummy I want to go home."

[ETsmum]

Gingernut, so there is hope? Think I tend to worry that in some way he will grow up disfunctional as he had a rubbish first year as I had PND.......

[badelaide]

My sis gets really spooked by all that stuff, punch and judy, clowns, old dolls.


She's 44.

[badelaide]

......just to reassure, she's not at all barmy!

[ETsmum]

Now I DO remember reading a while back on MN about an adult scared of clowns Maybe I should stop fretting and have a drink......have his 3 1/2 yr check tomorrow (don't know if you still have them in the UK) which is making me nervous for no reason whatsoever!

[badelaide]

Aaah, you are a lovely Mum to worry so.
I am absolutely sure he's a happy boy with a good imagination.
My ds1 is really scared of swings, he's nearly 8, so please don't fret.
.....and try to enjoy his check tomorrow

[missingsleep]

Clowns still scare the hell out of me.

[ETsmum]

Awww, thanks badelaide, yes he does seem really happy otherwise and doesn't stop talking! Your poor ds1 being scared of swings.....mind you I'm not too keen on the roundabout at our local park.

Will try to enjoy his check, and know he is fine (apart from the puppet thing) just somehow feels like a test, even tho I know it shouldn't iykwim?

[ETsmum]

Missingsleep - how old are you, or are you not telling And how do you have a fear like that and not pass it on to your dc?

[imaginaryfriend]

I was petrified of dolls / puppets / costumes until I was at least 12-years-old. I still find them creepy now.

Dd, on the other hand, is totally fearless about those things. But show her a stray hair or a bit of cobweb and she's in complete hysterics.

I think we're all different, your ds's imagination probably spurs him on to feel particularly scared of things which are 'almost' real.

[ETsmum]

Thanks for the comments re his imagination being extra good I hadn't looked at it that way.....and he's also scared of spiders webs! WIll just about go on his slide in the garden if checked carefully for webs first!

[potoroo]

I'm 33 and clowns and puppets still freak me out.

I was petrified of Ernie and Bert from Sesame Street.