| Children are the most vulnerable when facing a | | | | these fears tend to disappear or to diminish. If |
| crisis. They are most vulnerable because they are | | | | they don't however you may notice a |
| much more prone to feeling certain fears during | | | | progressive tendency to worry or fear over |
| the crucial years while they develop. There have | | | | things. The symptoms are usually clear: they are |
| always been cases of fear and anxiety among | | | | worried or afraid of getting a bad grade, that |
| children, but in recent years, the feeling of | | | | their mother will not pick them up from school or |
| vulnerability is ever more present. | | | | something terrible could happen to one of their |
| Generally anxieties and fears most affect children | | | | loved ones. They can become irritable and suffer |
| from about the age of 10 on through | | | | from headaches or stomach aches. It is also |
| adolescence, although some fears are present at | | | | possible that they stop playing as much and may |
| an earlier age. While fear is generally thought of as | | | | show signs of disturbances in sleep or feeding |
| a negative trait, care must me taken to | | | | habits. |
| understand where it comes from. Fears are a | | | | The good news is that in most cases the |
| natural mechanism of protection. For kids, the sign | | | | recovery is complete. It is essential however to |
| of fears is also an indication of their development. | | | | make a good initial diagnosis and follow the |
| They are becoming conscious about their own | | | | appropriate treatment with the whole family |
| individuality and resources. The golden rule for | | | | working together. You should define the problem |
| adults living with kids who are afraid of something | | | | depending on the worries or fears being exhibited |
| is to be careful and not to get impatient or angry | | | | by the child. The most common are separation |
| as you guide them to get through the situation. | | | | anxiety disorder, panic, generalized anxiety, social |
| What types of fears are considered normal during | | | | phobia or specific phobias. The symptoms of |
| childhood? | | | | these types of fears can be expressed as |
| Between 6 and 18 months, babies normally begin | | | | depression, a deficit in attention, impulsiveness and |
| to have fears of the dark and unknown. While at | | | | hyper activeness. After determining the type of |
| 8 months old they begin to show fear of | | | | disorder and its possible triggers, treatment should |
| strangers. Between 2 and 7 years it is common | | | | be done with a therapist. |
| to express fears of certain animals, monsters or | | | | Keep in mind that the speed of recovery depends |
| ghosts, and lonely situations. Finally after the age | | | | on many factors. For example, the degree of |
| of about 7, fears begin to be associated with the | | | | vulnerability the child has, parent engagement with |
| social context; school, sports performance and | | | | the treatment and the characteristics of the socio |
| fear of death. | | | | economic area where they live. |
| To the extent that a child develops normally | | | | |