When I’m feeling scared

ABOUT THE BOOK
FAMILY ACTIVITIES

When I’m feeling scared

Text and illustration: Trace Moroney / Publisher in Arabic: Dar al-Huda

Distribution: September, 2018

It’s easy for anyone to be scared of some things, like the dark or dangerous animals! But lots of other things aren’t really as scary as they seem. Each of the books in this series has been carefully designed to help children better understand their feelings, and in doing so, develop confidence and self-esteem as they grow. Talking about feelings teaches children that it is normal to feel sad, or angry, or scared at times. With greater tolerance of challenging feelings, children become free to enjoy their world, to feel secure in their abilities, and to be happy.

Family Activities

Fear is a feeling that remains with us whether we are old or young, the same as joy, sadness, anger, and other varying emotions. Children experience fear in many situations, such as: being separated from us, moving to a new educational framework, being alone in the dark, or seeing creatures such as ...

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Dear Parents,

It is important that we give legitimacy to our child’s fear and show them our understanding, and even if it seems unfounded to us, their fear is real, and they turn to us, asking to feel safe. We can reassure them by talking with them and telling them that we all get scared from different things, and that fear is not shameful. We can support them by talking to them about what triggers their fear, and by thinking with them about practical ways that will enable them to eliminate it.

On the other hand, a child’s fear may be reduced if they gain self-confidence and feel that their parents appreciate and love them. Spending special time with our child, playing with them, reading a book with them, listening to them and having a conversation with them, helps them discover their abilities and seek to develop them, which helps them deal with difficult feelings, such as: fear, anger, sadness, jealousy, etc.

Family Activities

We can chat with our child about things that make them afraid. We can encourage them to talk about everything: What exactly frightens them, and which feelings do they experience physically at that moment?
People differ in their physical reactions in situations of fear, some of them become irritable, sweat and feel hot, and others feel paralyzed, or they may feel cold. It may be helpful to share what scares us with our child, and how we physically feel in moments of fear.
What can help us relieve our fear in each situation? Together, we can think of practical ways that suit our child’s abilities, such as asking for help, breathing deeply, or turning to someone they trust.
Often, when we materialize the source of our fear, we feel that we are in control of it, and this reduces the severity of its impact on us. We can encourage our child to draw what they are afraid of, or to shape it with playdough.
In addition to advising our child to talk about and draw what frightens them, it is also useful to encourage them to think about and draw a list of situations/people/things that give them a sense of reassurance. Seeing these two lists helps them in realizing their own ability to alleviate their fears.
Enjoy your reading!