1. Be patient  Many toddlers go through stages of being scared of the dark. At this age, they're still separating reality from their vivid imaginations2. Acknowledge your child's fear  Tell her you understand that the dark can be a scary place


to you what is real and what is just imaginary. Fear of the dark Use a night light to give a reassuring glow. Remember, too, that when lights do go out, absolute silence can be frightening. Your child may be happier if she can hear people moving about

The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark (picture book) by Jill Thomlinson (Egmont, £3.99)This classic tale has been soothing night-fearing children for generations and has even been reworked into a picture book for very young readers. Help to conquer

Gothic booksInto The Forest by Anthony Browne (Walker Books, £5.99)A fantastic book to put the fear into young children, while older ones will enjoy reading it for themselves. Playing on a young boy’s anxieties, Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne

to you what is real and what is just imaginary.Fear of the darkUse a night light to give a reassuring glow. Remember, too, that when lights do go out, absolute silence can be frightening. Your child may be happier if she can hear people moving about

from £30, by Brother MaxDon't miss... Find out who all of the lucky winners are in our lifestyle categoriesPlus discover... How to deal with your child's fear of the dark

Were you nervous about illustrating a book by Lauren Child, when her fans might expect her to illustrate? Yes, that did cross my mind, as I am not at all stylistically like her, and I feared some might say “What a letdown. What a bad attempt at a

of separation anxiety tells a very different story. Babies are genetically programmed to move into a state of both panic and pain when separated from their parents and left alone in a room, particularly if it’s dark. It’s not about control, it’s the activation

, with slightly dark overtones.  All perhaps giving the impression that maybe what we’re seeing in the zoo isn’t really going on at all except for in Zoo Girl’s imagination, but who knows?! The book’s probably heavily influenced by Maurace Sendak’s Were the Wild

of India. Oh, he’s also a figment of our imaginations, but his existence provides just the right amount of reassurance my five-year-old son, Joe, needed to help him get over his fear of flying.Thanks to James, we landed safely in Delhi after our eight