Handling Scared Nights for Kids

[maylips]

DD is five, which means she's moved from being slightly afraid of tigers and bears coming into her room to now being afraid of "real" things in the dark. She's freaked herself out now for the past two nights to the point that I don't know how to handle it. Tonight she was so scared that she refused to go into her bathroom just to get her toothbrush in order to bring it into her brother's bathroom to brush teeth together.

I remember those nights as a kid - creeping yourself out so much that reality is unattainable. I don't know how to help her and could use some advice.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Ds1 still sleeps with a lamp on in his room- 25w. At age 6 (I think) we went to a therapist for just 1 session b/c he had an overwhelming worry about fires come bedtime each night. She gave us some strategies and talked to ds. Things completely improved!