Has anyone else's 3 year old suddenly become frightened of EVERYthing?!?

[snowboarder]

My mud stomping, fearless scooting, jumping, running, farm and woods loving small boy seems to have changed over the last 6m - he has developed a complete phobia of most animals (dogs esp) for no apparent reason, he asks to be carried the whole time, he won't go exploring in the woods (jumps into his little brothers buggy, scared of the gruffalo app). It's driving me a bit mad as everythings a drama (more than ever before), and also we're not having the fun we used to!! What's going on, has it happened to anyone else, and will it change please?!? This time last year he was riding on rollercoasters at a theme park and holding baby goats...today he had to be carried around a country walk and had hysterics at a horse..!

[Fuschia]

I think periods of change (like moving house, new nursery) often lead to a need for reassurance that manifests as acting scared or babyish... Plus that sort of thing just ebbs and flows anyway

Plus they go through a period of fascination with death at about aged 4 IME

And their imaginations develop, hence they start to worry about monsters

I think the answer is calm matter of factness about the perceived threats - avoid the dad showing any disappointment at the son's wimpishness, or talk of 'big boys' and just make sure there is plenty of gentle reassurance etc, probably at other times

I think it's best not to over react at the actual moment they are getting worked up about something. Whether you try to force them

In to it, give them

Oodles of love or jolly them along, it's all attention isn't it ... Best just to ignore it as far as possible and steer a bit of a wide berth of the dangerous creature ...

Playing with other children us good for minimising this sort of thing - they take their cue from the others

[nunheadmum]

Poor you - that must be so frustrating. I think at this age (or any age between about 2 and 6), they can be so fickle and often for no apparent reason. Oh to be able to see inside their heads.

I don't think you'll be able to force any reversal. But maybe try to show them how their current behaviour is making them miss out on other things e.g. maybe if friends are going to the woods then say 'Well, it would be nice to see XXX but they're going to the woods and you're too scared to go there.' etc. Don't make too much of it and do try to be understanding (or at least sound that way to them, even if you don't feel it). But keep retrying things every now and again but have back-up plans in case he's not ready to hit those rollercoasters just yet.

On the being carried bit, I'd say be clear to yourself where your boundaries lie - how much you're prepared to carry him - and then be firm, saying no and explaining that he doesn't need to be scared of the dogs etc as you're there and won't let him get hurt. I found that my youngest regressed around this age in terms of wanting carried more. I think they do just go through a bit of a phase of not wanting to be 'big' any more and wanting to enjoy the good bits of being little while they can.

Hopefully it'll pass as quickly as it's come on. Meantime enjoy trying some different activities. Maybe if you keep them boring enough he'll soon see his old games were more fun!

[Otta]

My daughter.

There is a big twitling slide near us and she used to go on it again and again. She'd also go on the biggest slide at Wells Park.

Then one day she wouldn't, and now she won't go on any slide, and she's reverted to getting on her hands and knees and going down steps backwards.

No big deal, but I've no idea why.

[Shaggy]

My little three-year-old has decided she is afraid of lobsters. Which is fine, as she doesn't tend to encounter lobsters too frequently.

[melbourne groover]

We spent quite a looong summer one year with my then 3 yr old demanding in ever increasing levels of hysteria that I shut the back doors every time the kids down the road revved their scooter (this was quite often) but this also spilled over to noisy cars/bikes when we were walking down the road. However this phase passed and by the next summer no noise drama! She definately went through a time of being hypersensitive to noise at around 3.

[susyp]

Dummies - my 4 year old is terrified of them. And they are everywhere - even the London Transport Museum has them! She loves princesses and we took her to a castle but she was frightened out of her wits as there were so many dummies!

Does tower of london have dummies does anyone know?!

people dressed up as characters also terrify her.

funny things

susypx

[snowboarder]

Susyp I actually have to confess that I had a dummy phobia when little...apparently was taken to a costume exhibition and had complete hysterics all the way round. Luckily I seem to have got over it!

[susyp]

She wouldn't have her school photo taken (reception so first time in uniform (sob!)) as the man had a beard....

this from a very socially confident child - but i've learnt there is no point trying to reasons with these fears!! woolly and tig on cbeebies is quite a good programme though as it does address this sort of thing.

susypx

[Bouncy]

Dinosaurs...and for an animal that's extinct, they are everywhere in the world of toddlers. Even a mention of them causes terror. Plus any place where they might possibly be hiding. Don't know what to do either, but feel for you!

[Otta]

That must make watching peppa pig difficult when George is on screen ;-)

[MGolden]

susyp Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Dummies - my 4 year old is terrified of them. And

> they are everywhere - even the London Transport

> Museum has them! She loves princesses and we took

> her to a castle but she was frightened out of her

> wits as there were so many dummies!

> Does tower of london have dummies does anyone

> know?!

>

I thought you meant the sort that you give babies to pacify them! And for a moment I wondered why the London Transport Museum had them and assumed they had made some sort of sculpture of lost/dropped/abandoned dummies. Even as I type this I am chuckling at my stupidity - but thanks for the laugh. :)

>

>

>

>

[ClareC]

MGolden Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> susyp Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Dummies - my 4 year old is terrified of them.

> And

> > they are everywhere - even the London Transport

> > Museum has them! She loves princesses and we

> took

> > her to a castle but she was frightened out of

> her

> > wits as there were so many dummies!

> > Does tower of london have dummies does anyone

> > know?!

> >

> I thought you meant the sort that you give babies

> to pacify them! And for a moment I wondered why

> the London Transport Museum had them and assumed

> they had made some sort of sculpture of

> lost/dropped/abandoned dummies. Even as I type

> this I am chuckling at my stupidity - but thanks

> for the laugh. :)

> >

> >

> >

> >

Glad it wasn't just me !!!

[Bouncy]

Me too with the dummies! :-]

Yes, Peppa Pig is very problematic, because he loves her - but any threat of dinosaurs appearing (e.g. a present is delivered - might it have a dinosaur in it?!) and he needs me to pick him up and protect him!

[susyp]

she's just clocked that shop windows have dummies too. It's getting a bit ridiculous.

susypx

[Moos]

Susyp, has she seen the scary burglar dummy in the safe shop on LL?

Gives me the creeps, and I'm slightly older than 3...

[jollybaby]

Dogs, pigeons - any animal really. Don't think I have a budding vet here!