’t pretend that you never have fears, worries and concerns. Instead, set a good example by showing your child how you face up to your fear by dealing with it rather than avoiding it.Reward successPraise and attention are one of the most effective ways

Scary monsters, ghosts and ghoulsReassure your child that he is safe, and help him to feel secure and less anxious. A toddler may benefit from choosing a toy that can “protect” him; an older child may be reassured if he can take the time to explain

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

Hallowe'en is almost upon us - a feast decidated to all things fearsome and frightening (all in the spirit of good old-fashioned fun, of course). To help you and your family enter into the scaring spirit, check out our compendium of terrifying

is scared of something, just that she does not feel right. Parents and teachers need to recognise when a child is out of her comfort zone and help her to push past this uncomfortable feeling.  Your child also needs to know that it is OK to admit she

, but those early memories are still so vivid, and that’s what helped make me the swimmer I am to day.The best advice I can give to build your child’s confidence in the water, is to start early, ideally as a baby. Get him used to water – even if it’s just

to understand how others feel. Teach your child "cross," "sad," and "happy" and move on to "disappointed," 
"surprised," "excited," "scared," and "thankful".

Use expressions Help your child learn to read facial expressions and body language. Point out facial

1. Start with positive expectations If you expect your child to be scared of life, guess what? He will be. Thepower of expectations is stunning. Studies have shown that even very youngchildren act in a way that confirms their parents

temperatures are combined, the effect in the human body 
is to release the “love hormone” oxytocin, which reinforces the child’s feeling of being loved, cherished and cared for. In other words, bathtime isn’t just a convenient moment in the day to reinforce a

of.  What did you want to be when you grew up?The classic boy dream; a footballer, an astronaut or a pilot. What were your favourite pastimes as a child?I had two similarly aged brothers, so we played a lot of sport, built tree houses and would