Toddler says we have monsters!
My two-year-old son frequently asks, 'Monsters in the dark?' In the past, we've told him that mummy and daddy told all the monsters to leave, and that his bedtime companions, Quack and Pooh, would eat the monsters. That settled things for a while, but then we moved. I've told him that daddy chased all the monsters out of the room with a broom before we moved in, but he doesn't believe this. It breaks my heart to know he's so scared! What should I do?
Do you watch Sesame Street with your son? (It's on at 6.30am at the moment - Editor) There are lots of nice monsters on the programme - it may help him to see them. Perhaps you can tell him that Cookie Monster and Herry are helping to protect him. Elmo, by the way, is also a monster. This might be a quick way to demystify the image of monsters.
You could invent a talisman - some item that protects your son - as you have done with the stuffed animals. I used to wrap an imaginary 'magic circle' around my children when they were young. The circle would always protect them, I assured them. In the morning, when they were fine, I would say, 'See how well the magic circle worked?'
Last, and most importantly, help make your house into less of an unfamiliar place for him. Does he miss his old house? Is he worried this one might go away as well? You may want to revisit your old home if you suspect that this is the case, just to show your son that it still exists.
As your son becomes used to the new house, his fears about monsters are likely to disappear. Meanwhile, putting some of these suggestions to work might ease the burden of change for both you and your son.
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