Can you remember being scared as a child? I certainly can and especially at night! Maybe childhood fears are more real at night because it’s the only time when the child is alone? Maybe it’s the time of the day when he is not distracted by other things going on around him? I recall sitting with my children till they fell asleep and I also left a little night light burning. A torch (flashlight) would also suffice. Some people have a fish tank in the room for light and calmness.
Childhood fears are a normal part of early development and can start from the early age of two. A child of this age is aware of the world around him, although he cannot fully comprehend everything that goes on. For example, he knows that birds can fly because parents usually point this out. However, he cannot understand that it is impossible for the bird to pick him up, fly away with him and eat him! Do not frighten your child with lies such as, “The man in the moon is watching you,” as is the custom of some parents. This only instils fear. Up until the age of four, when a child is still trying to separate imagination from reality, some fears can cause terrible nightmares. Fear of the dark is usually the most common fear; it reaches its peak between the age of four and five and usually disappears at about seven.