Teaching Your Child How to Overcome Fear

Whether it be a fear of learning or a fear of anything else, it can be completely debilitating. Students of all ages freeze, unable to function in tests, homework, learning math or science, writing, etc. This fear is so real to them that they describe it as it’s own entity -as if they could reach out and touch it. First, before any intervention, attempt to discover why your child is scared. What is promoting this reaction? After this initial discovery, attempt to help your child with some basic strategies:

• Teach your child how to calmly focus on long and deep breaths.  This may seem basic, but it is the foundation of relaxation. Short, quick breaths may produce additional dilemmas and troubles.
• Have your child envision themselves overcoming their fear. For example, if their fear is performing in front of an audience, have them imagine themselves doing an error-free performance with a standing ovation. Provide positive and successful experiences through thoughts.
• Try confrontation. Think of the scene from Harry Potter when each young wizard had the opportunity to confront their fear and imagine the absurd. Do the same thing with your child. If they are scared of spiders, introduce them to Charlotte’s Web.
• Ask the advice of other parents and educators. They have experiences which may be beneficial to you.
• Don’t forget to celebrate the victory as your child overcomes their fear.
• Surround your child with positive encounters.
• Have your child discuss with you the worse thing that could happen. Many times, individuals build up a fear to insurmountable heights without realizing that they have the power to overcome the fear. They simply have yet to recognize that the fear is not as deathly as they’ve imagined.
• Model your fears and how you’ve overcome. A friend shared a deathly fear of spiders and bugs, but he actually loved snakes. When in a situation where he knew he would encounter some spiders, he imagined a snake going before him, gobbling up the spiders.

Above all else, be sure to get the professional guidance of school counselors, psychologists and teachers. They are trained to help assist you and your child.