When do kids develop fears

Dogs and Other Animals: The human brain is wired to alert us to and protect us from danger. Back in the day, that could mean a panther or wolf attack—so some trepidation around furry creatures is clearly in order. While babies and toddlers are usually scared of animals, too, things get turned up a notch when an active imagination kicks in at this age, explains Dr. Fantastical ideas about what a fastmoving, unpredictable creature might do—It could knock me down!

Lick my eye! Eat my entire hand with its huge teeth! Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes: Again, your child is working hard right now to figure out how the world operates. Strike a balance between rushing in to rescue your kid and sticking around for a bit so she can get used to a situation, says Natasha Burgert, M.

Pick her up and comfort her, but stay there for a minute or two. Talk about the doggie being big, or put the back of your hand out and let the dog have a sniff.

This will likely manifest in stories he tells you about other kids, says Dr. Smith was really mad. He lost all his playtime. One-year-olds can understand the meaning of a fearful face as a sign of danger.

They are able to use this information to guide their behavior in new situations. For example, if mothers tense their grip on babies after a new toy is offered to them, month-olds spend less time playing with the toy. Babies also move closer to their mothers when they see a researcher look at a new object with a fearful expression.

Children can use words like happy, angry, and sad to label photographs of emotional expressions. Over time, children develop the ability to correctly label emotional expressions. Children also develop and express typical fears during the preschool period—of the dark, of strangers, of monsters, of going to the doctor, of dogs or other animals, and more. As children get older and can use more logical thinking skills, these fears can fade.

Giving children new, positive experiences with a friendly dog—and teaching them ways to cope and manage their fear—help them move on. Each issue offers science-based information on a topic of interest to parents and caregivers of young children—from sleep to challenging behaviors, and everything in between.

The following list contains some of the common fears and worries children may express at different ages. Many of these things are related to developmental changes and immaturity. Sometimes children may not able to articulate what their fears are and strategies for helping kids with higher levels of anxiety can be found in Helping the Anxious Teen or Child Find Rest and When the Worry Bugs are in Your Tummy.

The loss of physical, visual and auditory contact with their adults can also lead to alarm because the parts of the brain responsible for object permanence are not fully developed. They realize that their adults can reappear and that they do have some influence on the actions of others, for example, when they cry someone will come to pick them up.

At this age, it is common for them to display stranger protest which indicates their brain has developed enough to lock onto one person as a primary caretaker. This can result in playing shy with people they are not in contact with on a regular basis as well as showing preference for being in the company of their primary attachments.

They are still often frightened by loud noises as well as objects that suddenly appear or loom over them. A young child is still highly dependent on adults for caretaking, therefore; they can be alarmed when distant from them.

They can also be frightened if they get hurt, as well as loud sounds such as toilets flushing. Their smaller size as well as lack of understanding about these things likely increases their alarm level.

They may also state they are afraid of dark rooms with separation at night becoming increasingly challenging. Young children often feel most comfortable with structure and routine so changes in their environment can be potential source of concern for them. Find a Pediatrician. Text Size. Understanding Childhood Fears and Anxieties. Page Content. My child seems to be afraid of a lot of things. Should I be worried? About Phobias: Sometimes fears can become so extreme, persistent and focused that they develop into phobias.

What Parents Can Do: Here are some suggestions that many parents find useful for their children with fears and phobias. Do not belittle or ridicule your child's fears, particularly in front of his peers.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances. Follow Us. Back to Top. Chronic Conditions. Common Surgical Procedures. Developmental Disabilities. Emotional Problems. From Insects or Animals. Genitals and Urinary Tract. Learning Disabilities. Sexually Transmitted. Vaccine Preventable Diseases.