5 Tips To Help Children Afraid Of Animals
The fact that children are afraid of animals should not be considered nonsense. Children from childhood often develop phobias about things in the environment, such as fear of loud noises, fear of animals or fear of separation.
These fears cause anxiety in the child, which must be treated correctly to avoid the development of other pathologies, both physical and psychological. In the society we live in, the child will be constantly exposed to animals. In cities, in addition to dogs that walk with their guardians, there may be stray cats or birds. For this reason, a child will always be exposed to conflict.
Imitation, a basic form of learning
Birds and mammals, including humans, learn by imitation. Anxious parents who don’t handle frustration or fear well convey this to their children.
Even if we don’t like animals, or feel some fear about them, we shouldn’t show this to children. They must see us safe and calm in the presence of animals. Children must realize that by ignoring them, absolutely nothing will happen. That way, they will understand that if we don’t want to, we are not obligated to interact with people or animals.
No shock therapy for children afraid of animals!
If a child is afraid of animals, we cannot force him to be in the presence of one, let alone up close. We must respect, above all, the child. After working hard on the fear and anxiety caused by animals, maybe we can bring you closer to one.
Therefore, when the time comes, if we want the child to feel comfortable with dogs, we should choose one that is quiet and, of course, not intended to get close to the child and invade their personal space.
It is not advisable to choose puppies at this time, as they tend to be more agitated and, although we find them small and adorable, the child will not see them in the same way.
Learn about animal behavior
Before coming into contact with animals, it is better to get to know them. A child does not understand what an animal is. She doesn’t understand that these beings won’t hurt us just because they have their own feelings and reasons for acting one way or another. Therefore, it is interesting to carry out activities, together with the children, aimed at getting to know the animal world:
- Watch documentaries about animals.
- Design and craft from fabrics that mimic animal skins, such as cotton or velvet.
- Read about the different animals for the child to learn how they behave and how we should behave with them.
never ridicule the fears
If an adult, with developed reasoning and fear of needles, goes to the doctor to draw blood, no matter how much it is explained that there is no danger and that it does not hurt, the adult can still faint.
With that, we must understand that fears are important, no matter how childish they seem. We can never tell a child that their fear is silly, because for them it is not.
Professional support for children afraid of animals
Finally, we must never walk the path of phobias alone. All these tips should be supervised by a professional who will be the best person to help children who are afraid of animals.
Underestimating fear is a mistake. Behind it, other unmanaged problems are sometimes hidden, which can lead to future psychopathies, disorders or disorders.
We live surrounded by animals. With them, we learned and will continue to learn countless things. We must therefore help children to overcome these fears so that they can enjoy the company of animals equally.
