Stranger Dangers Of Fear In Children

Fear does not have to contain a negative connotation in your household. In society, fear is viewed an emotion that should be avoided. We as humans should embrace this emotional feeling of fear. Fear allows us to understand there is a threat present or that we are in danger. If we did not have this feeling, we would not know when we encounter dangerous situations. Parents want to protect their kids from these dangerous situations or threats, but they should not. By shielding and protecting their children, parents are hindering their children’s mental process. During an NPR segment titled “Child Safety: Stranger Danger Warning Needs Updating”, Headlee, the host, interviewed Phil Lerman, producer of “America’s Most Wanted”, Michelle Boykins, communications director at the
When face with an important decision, children will sometimes think about the consequences. If so, the emotion of fear will appear and hopefully guide them in the right direction.
As the saying goes: Monkey See. Monkey Do. When your child overserves you expressing fear to a object, person, or place, they will mimic you. This is something majority parents over look. When a child matures from newborn to toddler, they gain an extra boost of curiosity and want to explore more. Parents must then “reinstall” and reinforce the emotion of fear to keep their little bundle of joy safe.
Parents are not the only source that instills fear into our younger society. Other sources include: movies, storybooks, and the news. You us to fear those story books (Hansel and Gretel, Red Riding Hood etc.) your parents use to read to you. Fearing to be snatched up by the big bad wolf or a witch with a sweet tooth, no child dared to walk through the forest. Or take the movie Jaws for an example. After the movie made its debut, many beach goers stopped visiting the beach they feared they would be eaten by a great white