Helping Kids Have a Fearless Halloween

Newswise — It's a day for plenty of silliness--and sugar--but Halloween also gives children an opportunity to help conquer their fears, says psychologist Cindy Suveg of Temple's Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic. "Fears that are common to many children, such as being afraid of the dark, are exploited at Halloween," says Suveg. "The holiday provides many good opportunities to expose children to what they fear." Suveg notes that having fears is a natural part of normal development, and a child's reaction to Halloween's ghosts and goblins often is tied into their own cognitive development. Parents can play a significant role in helping kids get over those normal fears by talking about them with their children, says Suveg. "The more conversation parents have with kids about what is or is not real, the better understanding the child is likely to have," says Suveg. "The conversation needs to be at a level the child can comprehend. Fears change with increasing social, cognitive and emotional development. But when children successfully overcome their fears, they gain a sense of self-efficacy that then facilitates future successes."