Oh three, how you kick my buns.
My daughter (who up until now could have adopted the medieval name L. the fearless), has become afraid of eeeeeeeverything.
This is a phase right; A developmental milestone?
What tools have you used to teach your child/ren that we get to move through fear - that we can't just not do something every time we are afraid?
At three, I coddled it, and mirrored his emotions. He grew out of it.
My boys have NO fear, omg that is awful, while my daughter (2yr old) is afraid of everything. She is afraid of a common house fly, EVERYTHING. I just comfort her and tell her everthing will be ok and show her how harmless the item is.
I hope this is the right thing to do but again I have never gone through this before either.
Yes it is definitely a milestone. :-D The more she sees you deal with something she's afraid of, the more confident she'll become in trying it herself, or being near whatever she is afraid of. Don't force the issue or she'll become more afraid and she won't come out of that shell. Once you know what she is afraid of, talk to her calmly and say, "see...mommy does this and there is nothing to be afraid of". (in place of 'does this' describe what you are doing instead). It will take a while, but the more you allow her to see you do whatever it is she's afraid of, she will eventually come out of that fearful shell and be confident in going near, or trying new things. :-D
(oh three how you kick my buns....that's funny right there...lol)
My older two were born afraid of everything.
When I found out I was having a boy(s), I always thought...great..bugs, boogers, farts...worms and god knows what else.
Not the case until my third.
My 6 year old is still very cautious about EVERYTHING. Bugs freak him out...Dirt freaks him out...and he is a perfectionist.
My four years old is now loosing his fears...He is timid only at first now. He rocked my world when we went camping and went over and pooped in the dirt...without whining for hours first...He normally could not poo anywhere but home.
Long story short...It is a phase. she is probably starting to realize her own independence and with that things can become scary...it is new for her..which can make her draw back.
S when you see her showing fear in something she used to love...or even something NEW she should love...Stay with her. You can be her anxiety drug...Explain what is happening...just be with her every step.
If she is pulling back and is visibly shaken with fear you dont have to push it...but be consistent and try and get her to join you with whatever it is...Kids can be like animals in the sense they can sense and read your feelings very well by body language.
Do things that scare you. And do them very loudly to show that even mommy has to do things she is afraid of sometimes..but you can make it through.
She will grow out of this. It may take time...and you may not even realize it when it happens...the eb and flo is always happening...you adjust and mold around it and then before you know it...you are realizes a new cycle is starting...she will hit the phase with some things many times...This is something I have learned alot about with Zephyr(and he is three too:)). His can be extremely bad at times!!
my daughter is very timid, and afraid of many many things. The best things I've found to help her cope are:
-take time to be near, but not too near, the thing she's afraid of, while quietly watching it. Reassure her if necessary. Back away if she gets more scared.
-slowly get closer to item. back away if necessary.
-get her to interact in a new way. For example, she inexplicably got worried about sticks in her path. I got her involved in throwing them, and she was then fine.
Once she interacts with something the first time she's usually Ok. It mostly seems to just take getting her acclimated.
Good luck. Very frustrating at times, but normal.
