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

V
A R I A T I O N
If your child is the kind who would rather chase rainbows than monsters,
you might try another approach. I did when my daughter, Marissa, was
four years old and feeling wary of monsters in the night.
“I hope they didn’t hear you say you’re were scared of them,” I told her.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because it might hurt their feelings. If there really are monsters, they
must have a terrible time making friends. Every time they go anywhere,
people run away from them. It must be a hard life.”
“I love you, monsters,” she said.
She knew. Everyone needs love.
W
H A T
’
S
B
E I N G
L
E A R N E D
Children are fully attentive when their very real fears are being heard and
dealt with, just as we adults are very attentive when someone is listening
and helping us deal with our problems.
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Attention Games
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We are teaching our children to pay attention to how they feel and to
find creative ways of dealing with their fears.
Paint the World
If you’ve ever painted large surfaces, you know how absorbing and calming
it can be. You can give children this experience without mess or per-
manent change by letting them paint the world with water.
T
Y P E S O F
A
T T E N T I O N
E
N C O U R A G E D
Open and focused
M
A T E R I A L S
Large paintbrushes
Pail of water
D
I R E C T I O N S
Let your child use the water to paint a large area, such as the
outside of your house or a fence. The water temporarily
darkens any area it covers, giving the illusion of change.