Daughter Keeps Saying That She's Scared...

She is likely just learning to associate the word "scared" with that weird feeling of actually being scared or seeing something that looks scary or bothersome or even just out of the ordinary. Maybe the walrus' tusks are longer than most she's seen or the cat startled her once and she's remembering that when she sees him run by.

My daughter used to hide her face and act scared when she saw the lions in her Elmo book. Curiously, this started after a trip to the zoo where we saw the male lion putting on a great show and roaring at everyone watching. We kept reading the book often and acknowledging her 'fear' when we got to the lion page, and she eventually grew out of it.

I think it's a good idea to acknowledge that she is feeling something different, and talk to her to find out why - if she's truly scared or a little anxious or just annoyed by something. She will eventually be able to distinguish the feelings and hopefully won't be scared of everything.

Good luck!

I think it's pretty normal. My daughter at that age was afraid of feathers, not on birds, just loose feathers. Also, any type of fuzz. And houseflies.

she's OCD...you're looking at an obsessive compulsive possibly a hypochondriac child...i've seen it happen before in my friend's kids...they do the weirdest things and say the weirdest things...it's normal though, i know a girl who has to turn on the shower twice and has to get out and back in 4 times EVERY TIME before she gets in, not me, but someone I used to work with. Another one of my friends her daughter is OCD about colors and shapes being together, she's 2 and sorts candy!...there are MANY forms of OCD, but your child could be just going through a phase as well, little girls get notions like that in their head when they're little. I used to think someone would come get me if I ate the meatballs in the spaghetti o's first when I was about 3...its a normal thing, she'll get over it...

Maybe try showing her how the puppets work? Show her how each thing works it might be more not knowing how things work and what they do.

Good luck

I have b/g 32 mth. old twins, and they have both gone through a lot of things since turning 2. I was told that they start dreaming at the age of 2, so she might have had a dream that has stuck with her. We have had to quit reading my son his animal book at night b/c he would wake scared at night. It may be that they are learning so much right now that things are really sticking in their little minds. My son says everything will bite him, then my daughter is just afraid of loud things. It is a very interesting age. I think all you can do is reasure her that it's ok, and maybe at night turn on a little light so she can see that nothing is in her room. We have done this with my son. He doesn't like to be in the dark, and it doesn't bother my daughter. Good luck to you, it's a hard thing to try and figure out!!!

Remember, too, that what a two year old means by 'scary' may or may not be what you mean when you say 'scary'. She may mean that it bothers her, she doesn't like it, it's irritating...or that she's frightened. Little ones usually have very unique ways of expressing themselves. When my daughter was 3, bedtime and naptime meant the same thing. She'd say, 'In the morning when I wake up from my nap...'. They don't always say/mean what we think they're saying/meaning, so try to observe her reactions. Are her reactions fearful (recoiling, big eyes, hiding her face, etc.) or are they more resistant (indicating more of a dislike than a fear). And it could also be that you react to the word 'scary' and comfort her, and she likes the comfort! (who wouldn't?)... there's never a dull moment with kids. :)

Hi L. -

My son also has these issues. He's also 2. I personally think it normal. There are still so many new things going on for them. They are trying to figure it all out. There are several things my son is afraid of. With his books he's afraid of Lulu the Letter Spinning Spider, even Olivia's the pig's brother who put a bag on his head, a few "real" animals in his Animal Baby books, and David from the David Shannon books. He's scared of the loud toilet at Wal-Mart and dogs barking at night. Now every time we are out anywhere he braces himself for the flush - he even screams if it's loud. And he's afraid of puppets as well - really afraid - except for Elmo that is attached to a book. He's still cautious of it, though. I can now look at a book and have a good idea of what he won't like. Many times if I really look at what it is, I can understand how these things could be frightening. I read up a LITTLE on this and from what I gathered you are just supposed to not make them feel silly for there fears. These fears are very real to them, and they will most likely outgrow them when they understand their world better. Good luck!

Totally normal! My oldest was scared of fans, and the sun (that one was difficult to avoid!). My middle child wasn't scared of much, but my youngest was strangely terrified of a picture of a girl named "Tall Tina" in his sister's reading book. He was kind of oddly fascinated at the same time -- he would want to look at the picture, but would then turn away, then want to look at it again...

They are such unique creatures, aren't they? I think it's just their way of learning about and processing life. I know it's a pain at the time, but it does pass!

Hi L.,

My son turned 2 in March and does the EXACT same thing. If a room is dark, he will say "that scary".. if he is in trouble and I give him "serious" eyes.. he says... "scary mommy". If we are reading a book and he sees something new he tells me it is scary as well. Same thing with our cat, if she runs up behind him. I think when they learn what a word means, they tend to use it more than normal.

If your daughter looks at something and seems honestly scared for more than a few minutes, you may want to ask your pediatrician, although I think it is normal. I don't know if they have nightmares yet or not at 2, but I would think your daughter would wake up talking about it, rather than in the middle of the day. Hopefully both our kids will get past this stage soon!

Good luck!!

sounds normal... my son used to be afraid of trombones (the sound of them). Weird huh? He had some other strange fears as well. I never forced anything on him, and eventually he came around. He outgrew all the strangeness and now wants to take trombone lessons.

my daughter is 3 & says she is scared of random things....sometimes i think that something really has startled her, but other times she thinks it is funny to pretend there are snakes in the grass & come running up & say she is scared....she has a vivid imagination! also i think she is just learning what scared is right now.

This is probably just her age. But if you feel it may be more ask your pedi doc. My daughter had anxiety at 2 and 3 that came out as fear. It was difficult for me to tell if this was just her personality or something more. I checked with the Doctor at her routine visit and learned it was a little more. I don't say this to scare you but to be an encouragement. We have been able to help her and now she is perfectly happy and anxiety free (most of the time) :) The key for her was early intervention. So again most likely this is normal two year old behavior but if it eases your mind the Pedi is a great resource.

This is also the age where they begin to develop an imagination. which is great, but also scary for children. You might want to introduce new things slowly, let her show you what she can handle at this time. (You never know what will scare them;)) Another thing to watch out for is the beginning of nightmares. Good luck!!

I swear I could have been writing this...My daughter will be 3 in December and anytime we are in a situation where she doesn't know someone or is getting disciplined she will say she is scared. I really hope this is just part of being 2!

My almost three year old when through the 2 year old paranoia stage. :) The blinds in her room turned in to a monster, the sweet little bunny outside was somewhere in her room at bedtime, etc. I think it's just a phase. Don't make a big deal about it with her and it will pass. My daughter is still paranoid about the trash truck, etc. but it is much better than the phase she was going through a while back.

I noticed my son does weird stuff like that now. Things that never bothered him before (lawn mower sounds, thunderstorms - which are common fears I know) are very frightening to him. He used to sleep right through the noise and will now instantly wake up and scream if he hears them (so fun with our most recent weather pattern). He uses the word "trouble" a lot, if a toy truck makes a loud sound it's a "trouble truck". It's nice to hear others say their 2yr olds do weird stuff they can't really explain either. Oh and my son hates things being stuck on him too like stickers, band aids, ink hand stamps. Not sure why but he freaks if you try to give/put them on him. You're not alone, I agree with the other people just encourage them as best you can till they work out of it. I figure it's his age and personality, there are things that I don't like that may seem weird so he's entitled to some also.

my daughter is doing the same thing right now (she's three) - from shadows, to the dark, and pictures in books - i think its normal and hopefully just a phase :)