Children & Fear

[Drusilla]

My ex-husband returned our two daughters from a firework display a short while ago and they have been telling me how wonderful it was, but it's quite obvious that my youngest(6) was clinging to her Dad's leg throughout and jumping out of her skin every time there was a really loud bang. Why do children enjoy being terrified?I switched off Blair Witch Project last night because it spooked me and I didn't like that sense of unease, so they don't get it from me.

[jno]

I think 'spooked' and 'alarmed' are two different things Drusilla. Blair Witch Project had to do with unseen horrors, which might well have terrified your daughter too. It's also fiction, which registers with us differently from real life. But being startled by loud noises, while being simultaneouly reassured by being able to cling to your parents (and perhaps see that other people are enjoying it all), is probably much more agreeable to a child - part of learning how to cope with things. Encouraging children to believe they can survive the shocks of modern life is an important part of parenthood.

[Morrisonker]

Jno is right, bangs from fireworks still make me jump sometimes, especially as I can't get past the time delay some seem to have :) Also, for your daughter the scary noise was teamed with bright pretty colours, so that was probably really interesting for her. My wee cousin was the same, he seemed really surprised that something that scared him (the noise) could be paired with something pretty.

[Chessman]

While I agrre with the given posts, and I have nothing against, celebrating the 'Gunpowder Plot', in this way, I think its a palpable fact that the bangs when fireworks are going off are getting a lot louder, therefore it follows that there are more scared people,(children and adults, not to mention animals), out there.

[Ward-Minter]

when in fear the body releases adrenalin. For those of us young enough not to partake in any "substances" it's the closest thing they get to a "high".

Quite natural and, within limits, i actively encourage in children.

However I will state thethe "fear" is reasonable. i.e it will be wrong to just frighten kids for the sake only, but in a fictional sense (i.e late night ghost stories told by mum or dad, or the pretence to throw the toddlers off a pier, the kids knowing full well you won't really!) is great.

A screaming but laughing kid is a good kid. Just a screaming kid, its time for the social services.