5 Ways to Conquer Child Fears

"The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children."

-Elaine Heffner

Top of the morning to you, Mom! Monday has rolled around faster than a baby with a mission. Fear not, we've got your back (and you’ve got the coffee)!

Today’s Mommy scoop:

• Kiddy fears? A 5-step guide

• Level up toddler art

• Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese

• Toilet Paper Frog, because, well, why not?

Mom’s Field Guide

Conquering Kiddie Fears: A 5-Step Guide

Battling with nighttime spooks and daytime jitters?

Let's dive into some foolproof strategies to help your little ones face their fears with a superhero's courage.

Validating Feelings

Instead of dismissing the umpteenth bogeyman, empathize with their worries and reassure them.

After all, they're just starting to separate the real from the imagined.

Beyond empathy, try to put yourself in your child's shoes and remember your own childhood fears.

• Sharing your experiences and how you overcame them can be comforting.

• They can see that it's normal to have fears and that they can be conquered over time.

Problem-Solving Confidence

Equip them with self-help tools after understanding their fears.

This will make them confident warriors in their battle against fear.

Encourage your child to come up with solutions to their fears themselves.

This could be…

• Leaving a nightlight on for fear of the dark

• Reassuring themselves that the noises they hear at night are just the house settling.

The ability to face their fears and come up with a solution boosts their confidence and independence.

Taming the Screen Beasts

Screen villains aren't vanishing. But, we can help kids process the scary scenes, distinguishing between on-screen drama and real-world fears.

As they grow, discuss the content with them, explaining that the villains or scary scenes are make-believe.

You can even show them behind-the-scenes videos to demystify how these scenes are made.

This can help them separate fiction from reality.

Quality-Time Comforts

A daily mind and body routine provides love, comfort, and confidence, which can banish the bedtime ‘what-ifs’.

Add calming bedtime rituals like soft music, a warm bath, or a gentle massage before sleep.

This can help soothe any anxious thoughts and promote better sleep.

Real vs Exaggerated Fears

Sometimes kids use fears as an attention-seeking tactic.

By differentiating between genuine and exaggerated fears, we can provide them with the right help and care.

Help your child differentiate between real and exaggerated fears by gently challenging their fear without dismissing it.

For instance, if they're afraid of monsters under the bed, show them there's nothing there, but acknowledge their fear is real to them.

Remember, our little ones are warriors in the making. Together, we can help them find their courage and face their fears head-on.

Keep reading here.

Together with Blinkist

Give Yourself 15 Minutes: Personal Growth for Busy Moms

Powerful ideas in 15 minutes

Dive into 6,500+ book summaries, perfect for on-the-go moms seeking quick insights and personal growth.

Mom Hack

Enhance toddler art with masking tape

Mom Hack

Elevate your child's paintings into something more meaningful by using masking tape on the canvas.

The creativity of moms never ceases to amaze!

Mom’s Menu

Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese 🧀

Ever dreamt of feeding your little ones something that's both deliciously cheesy and sneakily nutritious?

I’ve got the perfect recipe: Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese!

Ingredients 📝

• 1/2 Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded and chopped (approx. 580g after prep)

• 265g (2 cups) Macaroni Pasta

• 28g (2 tbsp) Butter

• 18g (2 tbsp) Flour

• 250ml (1 cup) Milk

• 1 tsp Dijon Mustard

• 145g (1 ¼ cup) Mature cheddar cheese, grated

• 25g (¼ cup) Panko Breadcrumbs

Instructions👩‍🍳

1. Preheat your oven to 200C/400F. Place the prepped butternut squash on a baking sheet and bake for around 20 mins, or until soft.

2. While your squash is getting all soft and squishy, cook the pasta as per package instructions, drain it, and set it aside.

3. Next, in a saucepan, melt your butter and add flour, stirring continuously for about 2 minutes to make a roux.

4. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly to ensure a lump-free, glossy sauce.

5. Take your sauce off the heat and stir in the mustard and 1 cup (115g) of cheese. Keep the rest for a crispy topping.

6. Blend your cooked squash and cheese sauce together until smooth, then mix it all through your cooked pasta.

7. Transfer this cheesy goodness into an ovenproof dish, sprinkle it with the remaining cheese and breadcrumbs, and bake for about 15-20 minutes. You'll know it's ready when the top is bubbling and golden.

📌 Note

Feel free to experiment with different cheeses for the sauce, but mature cheddar tends to give the best flavor.

If you're prepping this dish ahead of time, just cover it and store it in the refrigerator, adding the breadcrumbs and cheese topping right before baking.

And hey, this recipe is flexible!

• To reduce sodium for your baby or young toddler, simply use less cheese.

• How about adding some herbs or spices?

• Oregano or rosemary can really make the dish sing.

Final thoughts: Mom, you've just sneaked in half a butternut squash into a creamy, cheesy sauce your kiddos will adore. Let's call it a win!

Enjoy your moment with this Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese. 🌟

Keep reading here.

Daily DIY

Toilet Paper Frog

Turn something as simple as a discarded toilet paper roll into a charming painted frog, complete with its very own paper plate lily pad.

The tutorial is here.

Mom’s Choice

These cookies are like a secret weapon for breastfeeding moms.

They're not just delicious, they're designed to help boost your milk supply.

I love them because they make breastfeeding a little easier, and let's be honest, who doesn't love a good cookie? 😄 

Soft Baked Lactation Cookies

Game

Parenting Quiz

What's the recommended age to transition a child from crib to bed? (Answer below)

A) When they turn 1

B) When they turn 2

C) When they start climbing out of the crib

D) When they turn 3

E) When they start asking for a king-size

Mom’s Meme 🤣

Answer

C) When they start climbing out of the crib