Early Motherhood

Grade-schoolers and fear
It’s normal for your grade-schooler to be fearful. After all, anxiety is a natural condition that helps us cope with new experiences and protects us from danger. Grade-schoolers’ worries are rooted in reality, though fears of the dark or the supernatural (ghosts, monsters, and aliens) may still persist. Some kids may still be afraid of animals, insects, and forces of nature like fires, thunderstorms, and earthquakes, though these fears are likely to diminish during the elementary years as your child gets more familiar with such phenomena. News stories about death, crime, violence, war, or natural disasters may also cause anxiety. Your 6- to 8-year-old may also worry about a serious illness, accident, or death in the family, since he now understands the significance of these events. A shy, sensitive, or withdrawn child may be afraid of strangers or social situations such as birthday parties, summer camp, or even school. Most of your grade-schooler’s fears will pass as he becomes more secure in his world.

Bedwetting is considered normal through age 4. However, 14% of 5 to 13 year olds still wet the bed. The cause of bedwetting is not completely known, but the following factors may be considered to determine appropriate intervention for a child who is wetting the bed.

Developmental Delay The bladder may not be fully developed. Boys, who develop more slowly than girls, are more likely to exhibit bedwetting. When developmental delay is the problem, bedwetting often just stops on its own. Use common-sense strategies to minimize the hassle and embarassment of bedwetting.