A Thought about Helping a Fearful Child
Some children’s lives are limited by their overly cautious personalities. Rather than convincing a child that “there is nothing to fear” it can help to gradually and patiently help them get used to uncomfortable or intimidating experiences. For example, if a child is scared of crowds it can help to gradually “desensitize” them to an increasing number of people making sure that each step along the way is eventually a rewarding experience. This requires patience and time but if done thoughtfully can build a child’s self esteem and help make trepidations a thing of the past.