How can I get rid of the 'witches' that have set up camp in dd1's bedroom?

[Oliveoil]

for a few weeks now she has refused to go upstairs on her own and I didn't know why

I rearranged their bedrooms this weekend to sort out our toy mountain but she will only play upstairs if dd2 or me or dh are with her

last night she said she had a bad dream about witches and that they are in her room and she doesn't want to be alone

now I said witches are not allowed etc etc but she is still scared

I am sure MN had a fab thread about getting rid of ghosts but I can't find it, please give me your tips to help my frightned softie to go to sleep

thank you!

dream catchers.we got given a proper one as a wedding present but its ended up in dds room from when she used to be worried about things under the bed etc.it makes everything ok.

We have a cuddly tiger toy, about the size of a medium dog. It sits in dd2s room and guards the door. Only lets nice friendly things in (including happy dreams), chases away scary things. has worked for us. Good luck.

we have a set of 'tingers'. They are the tibetan cymbals which make a lovely ringing sound when you bang them together.

When DS1 gets spooked we go around the room with the tingers, and the noise fills up the room and chases away the scariness.

It's to do with clearing the atmosphere of negative energy. (I'm no buddhist so don't know the details!) But somehow it seems to do the trick

thanks

so am I better taking the line that they do exist and getting rid of them rather then saying oh now don't be silly there are no such things as witches?

What about giving her a magic fairy wand and maybe other good fairy stuff. Im sure there will be books around where fairys can batter witches

Fairy dust put near her door to guard it from witches maybe - it is worth having a pile of glitter if she can get to sleep.

I recently had to take a mirror out of DS's bedroom (he's 10 yrs) cause he said people were in the mirror. I tried my best to take him serious and the mirror has gone.

I think if you could get a fairy theme going in her room - maybe even PJ's. I would go along with her fears cause I think they are very real to her. Good luck.

We got ds a cheap little push on light for his bedroom (Ikea) that we stick next ot his bed and he can push on if he wakes. It's a no monster light so they all go away.

The problem I see with saying 'but they aren't real/don't exist' is that they do to the child so they have no coping strategies to deal with them when they dream/see them.

If you give them something to scare them away then they can do something about it.

Yes, I think you are better off acknowledging her fears and giving her a way to combat them, rather than rubbishing them. I used to have to shoo monsters out of ds's room saying 'Go AWAY monsters, you know you aren't allowed in the house. Downstairs NOW and shut the front door on your way out.'

oh good, as I have been saying that they are not allowed in as mummy wouldn't allow it

and then thought, hmmmmmm should I be denying their existence instead?

she has a night light already

I think the fairy wand thing will work as she is fairy mad atm

We have magic water that we flick round with special go away type words

I think you should get a gun and shoot them

or a sabre

or throw water at the bed so they melt a la Wizard of Oz

oh you are all vvvv good!

what imaginations!

I've still got an over-active imagination when it comes to monsters. Dh put the 'Blink' episode of Dr Who - with the angel statues that move when you aren't looking a them - on last night and I couldn't stop jumping at every tiny noise afterwards! So I do sympathise with frightened children.

lol at us lot scaring you!!!

Just thought - a magic spell - that you and DD could make up between you. Just a couple of easy lines to remember. A spell, fairy dust, fairy pj's and a wand OMG I need to get a life.

...and then, if all that fails, an air rifle

edam - dont even go there - DOCTOR WHO - I am 51 years old and even now if I catch sight of a Dalek I am a quivering 6 yr old wreck hiding behind the sofa.

My DS4 (10yrs) takes great delight, when I am nagging him, of simply turning to face me and saying 'You will obey, exterminate.!! Dont know where he gets his sarcastic sense of humour from

Shabster, don't forget that children really can see spirits that are about...most of us lose this ability as we become adults, as we are less and less open to it all.
Your son probably did see people in that mirror.

Daleks still do it for me now... one of Psychomum's kids has little remote controlled one that freaks me out

you can get an aromatherapy spray for children that you call 'fairy spray' or something and the oils in it also claim to help with fears like this
I will search

Solo - wholeheartedly agree with you.

Our house is full of them seriously is - we lost two of our four sons and they are always around us.

DS4 has always been very knowing and talked openly about how he used to live here before. I had, actually, put that to the back of my mind until I read your post.

It comforts me rather than frightens me - but then I knew the two boys and DS4 was born many years after they died. Thanks for reminding me of that

Make a fairy ring in the bedroom, both dress up as fairies and dance around the ring saying special protective words. She can then do this whenever she feels scared. Plus it's good fun!

magic fairy mist

Still scared to death of Daleks though!!!

Was OK before they could actually go upstairs, but now, OMG they make me poo myself

Franny - that is ace! Do you think it would work on a Dalek or is it just suitable for a Cyberman

Go to a toy shop - buy a special "wand for getting rid of witches", some "which getting rid of glitter" to sprinkle around the windowsill - because we all know that witches hate glitter and make some magic "cards for getting rid of witches" using lots of glitter and sparkly paper and paint and stick on the window and door.

DS age 4.5 is scared of Halloween and asked me to make "cards for getting rid of Halloween" which we stuck on to the front door window. It seemed to work for him.

Just seen Shabster's post sorry - more or less saying same thing. The thing is to give your DS control over her fear rather than simply saying witches don't exist - she thinks they do, so give her the power to get rid of them.

Franny - can I use my plant spray and do a cheapo version with water?

all good tips, many thanks, will try them later

(on a note, the other day she wouldn't go up to get her cardigan so I stomped off upstairs muttering about being a feckin slave and generally acting like a twat.....only now I realise that she was worried about witches [shame])