- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
In the Dark
Helping Children Cope With Fears Through Story and Crafts
By Mike Anderson
"Round the corner came a big freight train ."
Tommy's eyes drooped and closed. His father had just finished reading him a book, telling him a story and was now singing a train song. Tommy's eyelids fluttered. Tommy was asleep and dreaming.
Dad left the room, closing the door. He smiled. With Tommy asleep, he had some time to read the paper and maybe watch the news before collapsing into bed himself.
Light from the hall drifted under Tommy's door and made strange shadows on the wall. Tommy's eyes popped open. He looked around. "Dark," said Tommy. "I don't like dark." His eyes fixed on a shadow creeping up his wall.
Holding his faithful stuffed dog Spot, Tommy slid his leg from under the blanket. When his foot touched the floor, a board squeaked. It always squeaked, but in the dark it was louder. He pulled his leg back in under the blanket and did what he always did in this situation. "DAAAD! MOOOM!"
His father laid down his paper and headed for Tommy's room. "Yes?"
"It's too dark in here! And there's something over by the wall!"
Dad stepped into the room and closed the door. He sat on the edge of Tommy's bed. "Is this how the room looked?" asked Dad.
Tommy nodded. "Look," he said pointing at the shadow creeping up the wall. "What's that?"
Dad stood up and walked to the shadow. "Looks like a shadow." He stood between the door and the shadow. The shadow changed.
"You changed it!" yelled Tommy.
"You can too," said Dad. He sat on Tommy's bed. "You walk over to the shadow."
"No!" said Tommy.
"OK, will you walk to the door?"
Tommy smiled. The door is where Tommy wanted to be anyway. Like before, the floor squeaked when he stepped on it, but Tommy didn't notice.
"Stand in front of the door and look at the shadow."
Tommy did. The shadow changed. "Hey, I
Want to see more?
