How to Calm a Frightened Preschooler:
From: "Mommy, I'm Scared": How TV and Movies Frighten Children and What We Can Do to Protect them.
- Remove them from the scary situation
- Don't belittle or ignore the fear
- Provide your physical presence, attention, and warmth
- Try a new, fun activity
- Consider lower doses of the scary image if they want to conquer their fear (use care: may backfire)
- Go along with reasonable bedtime rituals
- Recognize the limited effectiveness of logical explanations
- Be firm in your resolve to practice prevention
Harvest/Harcourt, 1998.TEDDY'S TV TROUBLES (a children's book for calming fears)