getting over fears?

alisa1228

maddy is terrified of sand.  i don't know what prompted it, or when it started.  she used to play with the sand at the softball field and sand volleyball courts when we would go watch dh play.

over memorial weekend, i was dropping her off at my mom's and told her she was going to the beach.  she told me she didn't want to go bc she was afraid of the sand.  i told her it was ok, if she got dirty, we would just wash her off, and she said ok.  but then my mom called and said she refused to go down to the beach.

we are in maui now, and have 2 days left.  we take her down to the beach, and tell her she doens't need to go in the sand, just sit on the mat and watch. she literally cries the ENTIRE time and freaks out, asks to go home or back to the hotel. dh wants to just "rip the bandaid" and plop her down on the sand and he thinks she'll get over it.  i think she'll hate it and resent it even more.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?  it's been frustrating not being able to lay and relax on the beach while on vacation!

LisaK2b

Anyway to somewhat distract her and get her mind off of it?  Like we can play with stickbooks or this new game or something only if you're willing to go in the sand and play there.

OR...maybe buy a bunch of sandcastle buckets and tools and fill it up just a little with sand in the bucket.  Maybe have her play with the sand that is in the bucket and build a mini sandcastle on the sidewalk or something.  And then since there's not that much sand, she may want to go and get more sand?  Or even have your husband build a big one on the beach while she builds the mini one on the sidewalk, and then she may want to go to daddy to build a big one with him too.  Eventually (hopefully) she'll be okay with going in the sand so you can build a bigger sandcastle and even get water on the bucket for the sand.