B a r b a r a s h e r I l L u s t r a t I o n s b y r a L p h

W
H A T
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S
B
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Children are developing their ability to concen-
trate and focus on one activity from start to finish.
Along the way they are picking up information and
making connections about size, color, letters, and num-
bers, as well as enhancing their creativity and finger 
dexterity.
Going on a Monster Hunt
Do you remember being afraid of night monsters? I do. I even had a plan
for dealing with them. I would trick them! I’d crawl under the covers to the
foot of the bed, fix up a little air hole, curl up, and start meowing. I figured
any monster looking for a child would say, “Oh, that’s just a bunch of little
kittens—who wants those? I want a little girl, but I guess there are none
here, so I’ll go away.”
I think it worked. It was better than grown-ups’ saying there weren’t
any monsters around and then turning on the light to prove it. That made
it worse because it meant monsters knew how to disappear!
The following game respects a child’s fear by doing something practical
about it.
Games for 3- to 6-Year-Olds
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Open
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(All optional)
Pillow
Flashlight
Broom
D
I R E C T I O N S
When your child expresses fear of nighttime monsters, go on a monster
hunt with her. Walk around the room together looking in closets, under
blankets, and behind chairs. Stomp your feet behind the chair, thump a pil-
low on the tumbled blankets, and make threatening sounds in the closet.
Do anything you would both enjoy to let any possible monsters understand
who is in charge here. This can include taking a flashlight and going around
the house, shaking a broom or a fist, and telling any monsters who might
even think about coming this way to move on!