"I'm scared! I'm scared!"

CBKMRB

My DD is almost 3 and has been saying this A LOT lately.  Everything seems to scare her lately, the dark, loud noises, everything.  When we get out of the car at night she bolts for the door or wants me to carry her in becuase "she's scared".  I don't know what brought this on. 

Also, sometimes she won't come upstairs without the light on because it's scary but if I'm up there and she wants to get to me, she just does it.  This makes me wonder if at least some of it is for attention or if it just doesn't cross her mind to be scared if she has a mission.

I would like to help her but I'm not sure what to do.  I'm tried talking to her about it and why she's scared but we don't get far.  If I tell her something isn't scary she usually gets over it pretty quickly for the moment.

Any suggestions or is this just a phase I need to ride out?  I don't remember DS doing this.

Marce921

My ped has told me that 3 is a "scary" age. They start to be scared of all kinds of things they never were before. So, once again, I think it's just an age thing. DS is "scared" of the dark all of a sudden too and we have to turn his closet light on when we never have before.

Kapalua

DS seems to do this a lot for various things.  He says it if he doesn't want to do something (I don't want to go in the store-it's scary!), Doesn't want to go to bed, did something naughty and knows he's going to time out....  It's like his fall back excuse.

lildevil968

My DD is 5 and does this!! I think she is hitting this phase pretty late...lol.  She won't go anywhere unless the light is on, and she has a dog with her. We also try and talk to her about why she thinks it's scary, and that she shouldn't be affraid to somewhere in the house by herself. She tells us that she hears noises, and we always tell her that the house is old, and it is just settling for the night. That seems to help quite a bit.

becoming_untied

My DD will be 3 in March.  She has been the same way for several months and we also can't get anywhere with her in discussing it/squashing it.  I wish I knew how to help her.  I know it is developmentally normal.  It just stinks for her and us.  Good luck!