Try To Understand Children’s Fear Of Being Alone

Every day millions of mothers and fathers deal with their children’s fear of being alone. Being alone is one of the most common fears in children, especially little ones.

In general , the fear of being alone develops between 2 and 5 years of age. If not handled properly, families can have a direct impact on children’s emotional health.

In some cases, the fear of being alone can be linked to other fears. For example, fear of the dark and the need to sleep with a night light on. It can also manifest with other fears, for example, of disguises and clowns.

Whatever our children fear, we as parents  need to keep a close eye on our children’s fears  to give them the help they need.

How children experience time

One of the reasons children may be afraid of being left alone is that they experience the passage of time differently than adults.

We see this, for example, when we promise them a reward. Children then continue to ask if “it is already time” and accept the answer “not yet, wait a moment” but with difficulty.

This is because children experience the passage of time in a different way. For a small child, a few minutes seem like an eternity.

This means that if a child is the last to be picked up from school because mom or dad is a few minutes late, it seems to them that the wait is hours.

And this can even lead to a panic attack. Some children have a lot of trouble coping with these kinds of situations. They may even be afraid of going back to school.

Afraid of being alone is normal

Almost every child on Earth experiences the fear of being alone at some point during their childhood. This is normal and should not be a cause for concern.

Children may be afraid of being left alone , even when they are around other people.

For example, some children are afraid of being dropped off at school, even if they are surrounded by other children. In this case , the cause of the fear lies in a feeling of insecurity.

Children can also feel alone when playing in their room, even though they know we are around. In babies, this fear often arises when someone other than their mother or father picks them up.

How can you help children overcome the fear of being alone?

As parents, one of our tasks is to help our children overcome any difficulties in their lives. One of those difficulties is the fear of being alone.

1. Never Minimize Their Problems

However small or insignificant child concerns may seem, we should never trivialize them. When we hide our children’s concerns, we teach them only one thing. And that’s that they can’t trust us.

2. Don’t Teach Them To Be Afraid

Some parents make the mistake of scaring their children into doing certain things. For example, threats such as “If you don’t go to bed now, the boogey man will come for you” naturally create a fearful atmosphere.

Children who grow up in such an environment are often insecure and timid. They also have more difficulty facing their fears.

On the other hand, as a parent you are easily overprotective. For example, if our children have a problem at daycare or school, there is a great temptation to go in and solve it for them.

But it is important to let children solve their own problems. In this way, they gain greater self-esteem and confidence.

3. Understand Their Fears

You should not force children to face their fears before they are ready. Instead, ask them to explain to you what they are afraid of and why.  You should try to understand their fear of being alone. That will give you the tools you need to tackle the problem.

When discussing this topic with your child, make sure you give him your full attention.

In this way, your child will see that you are interested in his problems. As a result, he will be much more comfortable telling you about the things that happen to him in the future.

Remember, the fear of being alone is completely normal in young children. With a lot of help and support from you, your child will be able to overcome that fear.