Parenting Tips for Your 39-40 Month Old Child
- Give hugs, reassurance and talk to your child about any frightening experience.
- Never laugh or make fun of your child’s fears and do not get angry with her.
- Avoid frightening television programs or movies.
- Never threaten a child with the boogey man or spooky stories. Carefully see that older children or adults do not scare your child for their own amusement.
- Try play-acting, drawing, using dolls, puppets or stories to help your child talk about a frightening experience. She might learn to tell a frightening monster, “Go away. I don’t like you, and I don’t want you to come back.” This may help your child feel more in control of her life.
- Help your child understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy fears. For example, your child needs to know that the loud scream of the fire engine is a healthy fear and means, “Danger, get out of the way!”
Learn more about Your Child: 39-40 Months from Just In Time Parenting. You can also go to our Resource Links for additional information on child care and development.
