How to help a 5 year old not be scared of thunder & lightening? HELP!

Sternchen · Jul 3rd, 2008, 10:06 AM

Hi guys,

As many of you know my 5 year old cousin lives with us part time and she's become like a daughter to me. Now that we're in the summer months were it's hot and sticky, we're having more thunderstorms. She is absolutely terrified of lightening and thunder and will cover her ears when she hears thunder and gets scared when she sees lightening. I know that it's something most kids are scared of, but I don't really know how to handle this. I tried explaining to her that thunder cannot hurt her when she's safe inside the house and that she doesn't need to be scared. It's not really only thunder she's scared of...it's also loud noises.

Any tips on helping her to calm down and maybe to overcome her fear?

I feel awful for getting frustrated with her when she won't even play for a minute by herself during a thunderstorm when I have to do things like change the baby's diaper, but I do...and I feel awful

Help!

hlchen · Jul 4th, 2008, 01:24 AM

I told my daughter that the only ones that should be afraid of thunder are the kids that do not listen to their parents. The reason the sky thunders is that it is upset at the kids that do not listen to their parents. I had started telling my daughter this when she was about 4 years old. Since then she has not been afraid of thunder or lightening or fireworks, etc...

MJDaisy · Jul 4th, 2008, 01:49 AM

i think when i was little they told me god was bowling? i think that worked. i dont know what they told me about lightening though.

KC1984 · Jul 4th, 2008, 04:55 AM

I used to be terrified about the same age.
My mum was fairly strict with me (in a good way) i was never allowed to be overly loud & boystus. Excpept for when it Thundered......
My Mum would let me run around like crazy, she let me stand on the bed & evryting there was a clap of thunder or a lighting bolt, I was allowed to jump as high as i could.
This really worked as i began to look forward to storms....
Give it a go.
XXX

BagsAreMyBabies · Jul 4th, 2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC1984

I used to be terrified about the same age.
My mum was fairly strict with me (in a good way) i was never allowed to be overly loud & boystus. Excpept for when it Thundered......
My Mum would let me run around like crazy, she let me stand on the bed & evryting there was a clap of thunder or a lighting bolt, I was allowed to jump as high as i could.
This really worked as i began to look forward to storms....
Give it a go.
XXX

That's cute! I was also told the bowling thing too and when it lightened I think it was something about God getting a strike?

gillianna · Jul 4th, 2008, 03:32 PM

My friends two daughters ages 4 and 5 are so scared of thunder and lightning that they literally scream and run around and I think each feeds off each other and it makes it worse.
She bought those glow in the dark night sticks and necklaces at the dollar store and now when it thunders the kids are allowed to chase the thunder in to being quiet again with the glow sticks and they love wearing the necklaces. It is now a game that they actually know they can have these special toys when it thunders.
Funny thing my daughter who never was afraid of thunder and lightning is now becoming afraid at 9 years old. But she thinks it is the angels bowling but I think she just wants some extra attention.

Jul 3rd, 2008, 10:06 AM	#1
Sternchen Member Joined: May 2006 Location: Beauty RAOK Posts: 10,225	Hi guys, As many of you know my 5 year old cousin lives with us part time and she's become like a daughter to me. Now that we're in the summer months were it's hot and sticky, we're having more thunderstorms. She is absolutely terrified of lightening and thunder and will cover her ears when she hears thunder and gets scared when she sees lightening. I know that it's something most kids are scared of, but I don't really know how to handle this. I tried explaining to her that thunder cannot hurt her when she's safe inside the house and that she doesn't need to be scared. It's not really only thunder she's scared of...it's also loud noises. Any tips on helping her to calm down and maybe to overcome her fear? I feel awful for getting frustrated with her when she won't even play for a minute by herself during a thunderstorm when I have to do things like change the baby's diaper, but I do...and I feel awful Help! __________________

Jul 4th, 2008, 01:49 AM	#3
MJDaisy bag connoisseur Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Chateau de Versailles Posts: 2,668	i think when i was little they told me god was bowling? i think that worked. i dont know what they told me about lightening though. __________________ enjoying my lovelies

Jul 4th, 2008, 01:24 AM	#2
hlchen Member Joined: May 2008 Location: The Big Apple! Posts: 908	I told my daughter that the only ones that should be afraid of thunder are the kids that do not listen to their parents. The reason the sky thunders is that it is upset at the kids that do not listen to their parents. I had started telling my daughter this when she was about 4 years old. Since then she has not been afraid of thunder or lightening or fireworks, etc...

Jul 4th, 2008, 04:55 AM	#4
KC1984 Member Joined: Mar 2008 Location: In my own little World Posts: 314	I used to be terrified about the same age. My mum was fairly strict with me (in a good way) i was never allowed to be overly loud & boystus. Excpept for when it Thundered...... My Mum would let me run around like crazy, she let me stand on the bed & evryting there was a clap of thunder or a lighting bolt, I was allowed to jump as high as i could. This really worked as i began to look forward to storms.... Give it a go. XXX

Jul 4th, 2008, 03:32 PM	#6
gillianna Member Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 3,494	My friends two daughters ages 4 and 5 are so scared of thunder and lightning that they literally scream and run around and I think each feeds off each other and it makes it worse. She bought those glow in the dark night sticks and necklaces at the dollar store and now when it thunders the kids are allowed to chase the thunder in to being quiet again with the glow sticks and they love wearing the necklaces. It is now a game that they actually know they can have these special toys when it thunders. Funny thing my daughter who never was afraid of thunder and lightning is now becoming afraid at 9 years old. But she thinks it is the angels bowling but I think she just wants some extra attention.