By the time a child reaches the preschool age of three to five, they have changed in so many ways. Many children are ready to expand their world outside of home and interact more with peers, teachers and other parents.
“Mom, come here, now,” my three-year old whispers urgently as he pulls me toward the yard. “Red eyes,” he says, shivering with fear. “Red eyes.” My son believes we have a monster downstairs, but only at night when we are upstairs. Other monsters live in bushes at the back of our yard, where they feast on stray baseballs and Frisbees. That is why he is worried now. I am called in to retrieve the ball he has lost. I grab the ball and run back to him as if I’ve narrowly escaped. “Monsters are just pretend,” I say.
As breast milk is the perfect food for babies, try hard to persevere during those sleepless weeks! Your baby’s stomach will gradually grow larger, and their nutrition needs will slow over time, allowing them to take larger feedings less often… and for parents to sleep.
It's not unusual for children to be afraid on Halloween. The scary costumes, walking in the dark and glowing jack-o-lanterns can be creepy. To make Halloween enjoyable, it's important to respect your child's fear, without overindulging it.
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