monsters...

[katherine2008]

DD1, aged 2.3, loves to read Bedtime Bear several times a day, which has a pop up which warns 'Look Out, Monsters About'. Recently she has started to tell me about the 'Dragons', 'Butterflies', 'ladybirds' and 'monsters' which she can see. She doesn't seem overly concerned, and it's not a particular issue, although they are mentioned more frequently. How is it best to react to her overactive imagination? Whilst I can cope with the thought of shooing a few pretend butterflies and ladybirds away, I'm not sure how best to deal with monsters - and how to tell nursery if she talks about them there? Thanks!!!

And if I hide her book, does that make the whole thing worse!!??

anyone?

I don't understand what the issue is?! What are you having to deal with RE monsters?

My DD (3) has a thing about monsters being in her bedroom ..and bears recently too. The bears DH has to chase away at bedtime by shooing them out of the door then pretending the bear is grabbing him etc..
The monsters were dealt with by the fairies on her duvet cover who do spells to keep her safe at night....they also do spells to protect her from slime and spiders...

I've hoovered up a scary sheep from underneath a chest of drawers before. And I have a blue and yellow furry monster who eats breadsticks living under my bed. It's ok if he stays there apparently

If she's not too scared of the monsters, I wouldn't worry too much. If my 3yo DD tells me there's a monster that she doesn't like, I ask her how I can make them leave and she tells me how. I do it - and its usually makes me look daft - and she's then reassured.

DS is the same.

Putting the offending books away, watching humf (he's a lovely monster), monsters inc (more lovely monsters) and a 99c spray bottle from Ikea (scares away any other monsters), solved the problem.(so far)

Thank you - I don't want to make monsters an issue Navy - that's why I asked for advice. I didn't know whether to say there is no such thing, or to tell her I have shooed them away. Thanks for other posters help.

I told my ds (4.5) very early on that monsters were afraid of people with blue eyes, so he would always be safe. Seems to have worked. I think ...

Sorry Katherine, I didn't mean to sound lairy; I just wasn't sure what you were trying to solve.

I always deal with monsters by saying they are too big to fit in the front door! And any smaller scary things are hoovered, shooed away etc. Whatever works really, even if it makes me look and sound like a loon.

I just love some of the solutions on here (esp the spray bottle thing). I think many children go through stages when their imagination lets them know what scares them at that stage. I'm sure it's often as real to them as it is imaginary and illogical to us. I think it's best to go with it to some extent, then change the subject.

Ultimately, best to remember that all children get left on their own at some stage (going to sleep an obv one) so gradually by doing all these things to show them how to cope, we are teaching them strategies to deal with things that may scare them later. It teaches them to have a positive mindset. Let's face it, life presents us with plenty of real scary things later on..

Monster spray is great. Old cleaning spray bottle, water, lavender water, sequins. The nice smell is offensive to monsters and the sparkles scare them. Apply to doors and windows. Works!

We have anti-nightmare lavender spray but I hadn't thought of adding glitter to it, good idea! And I spent weeks throwing a family of dinosaurs out of the window at my daughter's bedtime, first Daddy Dinosaur, then Mummy and finally the Baby dinosaur all had to go and sleep in the garden. We have bears which chase them at bathtime too. Monsters seem to be mainly there to be shot at with water pistols (because I don't want them shooting at each other).

Don't worry about nursery - I suspect they will have encountered monsters many time before!

dr Seuss that is genius. I shall invest in sequins today. thank you everyone - I am so grateful for your brilliant ideas.

Monsters are pretty standard at that age whatever they are reading, TBH. The only real thing not to do is to say "don't be silly, there aren't any real monsters" or words to that effect they need you to take their concerns seriously and engage with them at some level. Other than that it depends a lot on the child and what sort of mood they are in at the time-- - so just staying for an extra cuddle, or using anti-monster spray, or some other monster deterrent, or inventing a friendly monster who will look out for them, or some other tactic might all work (or not) with your DD. I think cakey's approach of asking what will get rid of the monster is a good one.

that's it - I had been banging on about there being 'no such thing' and then it occurred to me that it was likely to be the wrong approach..