As a child, I assumed my parents weren’t afraid of anything. I would call on their help when I felt scared or nervous and they were always there to check under the bed for monsters and assure me that all was safe.

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One day I found a wasp flying around in my room and I called my dad to help. When he saw what the problem was, he ran back out of the room in terror. My dad is terrified of wasps. In that moment, I realized that adults have fears too.

It’s normal for children to have fears. Kids may have bad dreams, be frightened of the dark, or find a certain movie scenes scary. However, kids can develop fears that interrupt their everyday life such as a fear of speaking in front of others, fear of being dropped off at school, or fear of trying new things. Here are some tips to help kids face their fears.

Give permission

Parents can let kids know that it is perfectly normal and acceptable to be scared. When you give a child permission to feel afraid, they can begin to acknowledge what is frightening them and face it head on. Parents can give tips on how to deal with different situations and work through the situation together. Lauren Heller, Overland Park mother of twins, says “For my preschoolers, we spend time talking about the event starting a few days before. I try to help them know what to expect and allow them to ask questions.”

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Be honest

If there is a scary situation coming up, it is best to be as honest as possible with your child so they know what to expect. “I try my best to prepare my kids in advance for scary situations. If there is a medical procedure coming up, I tell them what is going to happen. I never say it won’t hurt if it really will.” says Fia Swartwood, Olathe mom of two, “My honesty has helped my kids through lots of situations.” In the short term, half truths or sugar coating might help your child prior to a scary situation but in reality the trust that is built through honesty helps kids in the long term.

Problem solve

Try to pinpoint exactly what your child is afraid of and discuss ways that it can be handled. For example, Jane Hammond’s nine-year-old daughter was afraid of falling during an ice skating competition, they discussed what would be the result of her fall - just get back up, no big deal. “She did fall once in a competition, then got back up and finished. She was glad for the experience!” says Hammond mom of three from Linwood, KS. Other problems have easy solutions that  kids can’t always think of on their own.  For instance, if your child is afraid of the dark, using a night light may help solve the problem.