25 Phrases to Help Comfort and Calm a Scared Child

When you're little, the world can be a scary place. Where adults see closet doors and fireworks, children can see gateways for monsters and loud, scary noises exploding above them. Helping children deal with these fears can feel daunting, but it doesn't have to. "Not all scary moments are created equal and not all children respond to fear in similar ways," Dr. Allison Lobel, clinical psychologist and director of child and adolescent services for the Wellington Counseling Group, told POPSUGAR. "It's important to attend to changes in a child's behavior with curiosity and cautious concern. Some children may shut down and display a more paralyzed response to fear or even difficulty separating from a caregiver. Other children may display more overt signs of distress via crying, physically acting out, problems regulating emotions, and difficulty concentrating, to name a few signs."

Seeing your child experience any kind of fear can make any parent feel lost, but it's important for parents to do their research and have knowledge about what to do. "Fears can quickly elicit a sense of helplessness — for both children and parents alike — so having options on how to respond to the fear/anxiety can strengthen much-needed opportunities to experience agency and effectiveness around the situation," explained Dr. Lobel.

For starters, parents should honor their child's fear. "Fear and anxiety can be isolating experiences at times, so connecting with a child through understanding and empathy can help the child feel less alone, and ultimately more able and willing to engage in coping resources," Dr. Lobel said.

Keep reading for 25 phrases to help calm a scared child.