24 - Developmental fears

Developmental fears

© SPMM Course Imaginary companions are often a part of emotional development.  Preschool years mostly (between 3 to 10 yrs age, 50% may have),  Usually in children with above-average intelligence  Usually in the form of persons rather than animals/things  Usually friendly and help to reduce loneliness and anxiety.  Mostly disappear by age 12, occasionally persist into adulthood. Developmental fears  Fear of animals-age 3  Fear of the dark-age 4 or 5  Fear of imaginary creatures - 5 plus  Fear of open spaces arises in later childhood or adult life  Fears that arise in late childhood or adult life: fear of sex/open spaces.  Teenage onwards-failure, illness and death  Fears that show no particular age trend-fear of snakes or storms Simple fears are often linked to early negative childhood experiences or learnt from other family members (such as a sibling’s fear of spiders may influence a child). Maintenance of phobias is due to avoidance of the anxiety-provoking stimuli relieving unpleasant emotions, which becomes a reward itself. Children of age 3 to 6 yrs are aware of their body and show a preoccupation with illness or injury,

• every injury must be examined and cared for – hence this phase is also called Band Aid Phase. •were quick to express anger •slow to distract themselves •might try to distract themselves but only briefly •bid to mother but angrily 18 to 24 months 18 to 24 months •quickly bid to mother (but thru words not anger) •were somewhat quicker to distract •anger was briefer, distractions longer 36 months 36 months •quickly & briefly bid to mother (verbally) •quickly distracted themselves •eventually focused on gift & then showed anger 48 months 48 months