Преживяването на страхове при децата е често срещано явление, което се променя в зависимост от развитийния период, в който се намира детето. Докато изследват света около себе си, децата получават нови преживявания и се изправят пред нови 
challenges, anxieties are an almost inevitable part of growing up. According to research data, about 43% of children between the ages of 6 and 12 have had many fears and worries. Fear of the dark, especially being alone in the dark, is one of the most common fears in this age group. Also the fear of animals, such as large barking dogs. Some children are afraid of fires, high places or thunderstorms. Others, aware of news reports on television and in newspapers, are concerned about thieves, kidnappers or nuclear war. If there has been a recent serious illness or death in the family, they may worry about the health of those around them.
Nature of children's fears:
Fears begin in infancy and change with growth. Some fears are common at certain times of growth. For example:
- In infancy (0-10 months) children are afraid of new stimuli, of unfamiliar faces. Initially, they begin to recognize the faces of those who care for them, and everyone else in the eyes of the baby is a stranger. They often cry and want to cuddle with the parent when they see a new face.
- Many young children between 10 months and 2 years of age begin to fear separation from their parents. They don't want to be left in a crib or fall asleep alone. They may cry, try to cling and stay close to their parent.
- Preschool children (3-6 years) they can imagine and make up different images, but they cannot always tell what is real and what is not. In their eyes, the scary monsters they imagine seem real. They are often afraid of what might be under the bed or in the closet. At this age, many children also begin to fear the dark. Some are also afraid of scary dreams.
- At primary school age (7-11 years) children now know that the monsters under the bed cannot scare them because they are not real. At this age fears arise related to what might happen in real life. They may fear that there is a "bad person" in the house or fear natural disasters they hear about. They may fear that they will be hurt or in pain, or that a loved one may die. Another major theme during this age is worrying about schoolwork, making friends.
- In middle school age and adolescence (12-18 years old) many adolescents have social fears: worry about how they look or if they fit in. They may also feel anxious or afraid before giving a presentation in class or when moving to a new school, before and during an exam, or attending a large social event.
Having fears is part of a child's development. They are considered normal when they do not last long and do not interfere with personal development. Most children deal with fears on their own and/or with support from their parents. As they grow up, they build strategies to deal with their fears that remain into later stages of life. For this reason, it is important not to leave them unattended, but to help our children in this process.
Какво могат да направят родителите, за да помогнат на децата си да преодолеят определен страх?
NB! Fears are real in the mind of children and in most cases they really experience them.Don't neglect them, but don't give them too much attention, such as talking about it all the time.
- When you want to help your child not suffer and not fear your separation, the first step is to leave him separated from you for a short time. When you have to part ways, tell him "see you soon"/"bye"/"goodbye", explain that you will be back, hug him and smile. This way, your child will feel more relaxed and learn that you will always come back.
- Comfort your child by saying, “It's okay. You are safe, I am with you.' Hug your child and use words to make him feel safe. The message of the actions is that you are there to help and protect him, no matter what age he is.
- Listen and talk to your child when he shares with you. Be calm and help him express his feelings in words.
- If your child is afraid of the dark or of sleeping alone, you can come up with a soothing bedtime ritual: read a story or sing a song, put "someone" (eg., a stuffed toy) next to his bed to watch over him. The message is to make your child feel loved and safe.
- Support your child to face their fears, not avoid them.
- Limit the children's viewing of scary images, movies or children's movies. They can also cause fear.
- Help teens prepare for challenges like exams or presentations. It is important that they know that you believe in them and support them.
Some children have a harder time dealing with their fears and need more help. If
- fears are very strong;
- they prevent the child from doing everyday things: for example, going to kindergarten or school, sleeping alone, or separation from the parent;
- physical ailments appear: stomach pains, headaches, dizziness, palpitations
Turn to a specialist in the form of a child psychologist and psychotherapist who can support you and your child in this process.