monsters in the room at night for a 4year old. HELP

[hermykne]

my firends dd is now 4 and has been aware of monsters, but last night C said she was terrified going to bed and the monsters were everywhere, the shadows etc and at 10.30 C let her sleep in her bed.
so whats the best approach?
dd started montesorri this week but has settled into it no problems. just tired.

I had this with DS. Someone advised me to get them to check all the places they are 'hiding'. While holding their hand obviously! Then I explained they were made up for stories only, not real and kept repeating that. After a week or so with it getting progressively less he was much better.

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thanks for those tips

Don't belittle her fears, but keep going with 'monsters aren't real'. Checking makes them seem more real, o/wise why check? Then talk about nice things e.g. fairies, angels instead.

We check to prove they re not real and not there!

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She's four! Who says I have to be logical?

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gglimpopo
thats a good idea, talk about the =m on the way to the park or something and they are having their dinner now sort of stuff.
ta

I used to tell DS1 that monsters didn't come to our house because they are scared on Mummy and Daddy!

Well, my 4 yr old believes absolutely in angels and fairies but bores away about how monsters/ghosts/dragons etc aren't real every time they come up in stories etc. It might be because I was given this tip when dd1 was very small, so whenever anything like this is on telly or in her books we've always said, 'but they aren't real,', and it's sunk in.

We do a monster check every night before bed with a big trumpet. We parp it into every crevice in the room to scare them off and it satisfies DD.

a trumpet is a good idea really bizarre!

We put a couple of the teddies on monster watch. We have also been known to line up some dinosaurs, just to be sure.
We had to stop DS watching Scooby Doo as this was where some of the fear came from. Get your friend to check what the LO is watching that may cause her fear.

Remember that mummy (or daddy) have magic powers and can "whoosh" away monsters with a special puff from her mouth and flick of her hands.

You can also roll up any bad dreams or monsters into a tight ball (about the size of a football), throw it out of the window and a lorry will drive over it and squash the monsters into squidgy monster jam, which will wash away.

These are two strategies that we use with our children, the first works better for the younger child, the second works better for the older child.

It's probably because of the excitement of starting nursery, but over-tiredness and over-stimulation from films can make it worse. It's surprising what can scare children - ds used to be petrified of one or two particular moments on Thomas the Tank Engine!

Dd hates it when she can see the glowing little LED on an extension lead that we use in their bedroom. It really spooks her in the dark room, so I have to make sure the extension lead is well tucked under so that she can't see it.

I, OTOH, make sure never to leave clothes draped over furniture at night, as I half-wake and think that I'm seeing a person in my room - and that spooks me!