Between the ages of 24-30 months, children can start to develop more pronounced fears. Fear at this age can show up as sadness, clinginess, unpredictable behaviour, mood swings or something else entirely. Here’s how to respond to your toddler’s fears: 👇 Take their fears seriously. They may not have the language necessary to express themselves yet, but showing them that you believe them can help: “I see that dog scares you, and I wonder if it’s because it’s moving really fast and barking. It’s okay to feel scared, would it help if I picked you up?” 🐶 Talk about fear when they’re not afraid. With darkness, for example, give them a preview of what’s to come. You can say, “It's almost nighttime, so it will be dark in your room, but everything stays the same! Your cot, dresser and clothes all stay the same in the dark. It just means the sun has set and will be back in the morning.” 🌜 Role-play. If your child is afraid of a doctor's appointment, role-play with them, and give your child a turn to be the doctor. If they’re the one administering the treatment, they may feel some control over the situation. Give them some of the words that doctors and nurses use: “this might sting, but only for a second—and then you can have a plaster.” Read books about fear. These can be great tools for helping children anticipate potentially frightening events. Seeing another child’s reaction and how they navigate a scary situation can reassure your child that they can do the same. 📚 Identify real dangers. We don’t want to heighten fears to the point of anxiety, but we do want to reinforce the fears that protect them. Let children face their fears in small doses. If your child is afraid to take a bath, you can fill a small tub with water and let them put just their hands in, or stand in it. Tell your child it’s the same water they see in the bathtub, they can play with it and it feels good. 🛁 Sometimes, just avoid it. Whether it’s rational or not, sometimes avoiding the cause will be easiest for everyone. In the meantime, continue talking about it; reassurances that you’re listening to and there for them will help them outgrow their fears. #SocialEmotionalDevelopment