25 Phrases to Help Comfort and Calm a Scared Child

Ask them directly what they need from you. "This kind of sentiment communicates to a child that 1.) you're attending to their big feelings, 2.) reassures a child the parental role is to love, protect, and problem-solve, and 3.) offers the child an opportunity to hear about potential problem-solving strategies," Dr. Lobel explains. Maybe they just need a hug or for you to remove the thing that's scaring them, but get them to start thinking of how to solve the problem.