Irrational fears in a 3 year old?

[RoseRed]

I hope i am putting this in the right place (and excuse typos NAK) My 3 year old dd has recently began showing some rather extensive irrational fears and I am wondering if it is normal or something to be conserned about. Right now she is crying and pacing around the kitchen because she is terrified to go to DIsneyland (we were discussing a summer trip this morning) The 'fear of disneyland' came up about a month ago and we thought it was related to capatina hook -w ho she saw at a halloween party and scared her. But now she thinks pirates are cool and is still terrified of going. But thats now all. We were playing chutes and ladders two days ago and the picture of the little girl crying because she ate two many cookies sent her into what almost seems to be a panic attack. We had to put a disney princess sticker over the image to calm her down. I know there is more - but I really can't think of them right now (sleepless daze from newborn induced I am sure lol)

DD is very bright for her age, she tends to ralate better to her four year old cousin than her cousin that is only a few months younger. She has an active imagination but is simulataneously very logical. I don't know if that makes any difference but I thought I would add it...

Any one have any idea what could be causing this?

[Alyantavid]

Because she's 3?

She may very well be extremely smart and able to communicate easily with older kids, but she's still 3. She's probably just starting to grasp some things that she isn't sure about and it scares her. I really don't think you can lessen her fears at this point, if they are irrational, as you say, you can't really rationalize them to her.

My 3 year old has developed this terror of being in his room by himself. Nothing's happened that I know of and he can't tell me why he's afraid, just that he is. So I don't make him stay in there by himself. Personally, I wouldn't make a huge issue of it and when she is calm and able to talk, I might talk to her a little to see if she shares anything about why she's afraid. But I wouldn't push her.

[Tjej]

Sounds pretty normal to me. I ask about the fear a bit to try to understand if there is anything I can do to help, otherwise I just try to reassure my 3yo and let it go. A fear of Disneyland - just don't go this year .

We have the fear of being alone in her room right now, so when her brother isn't sleeping there too she just gets up. Oh well.

Tjej

[meemee]

yup v. age appropriate and normal. esp. if she is an imaginative child.

my dd wouldnt even walk down certain streets. when she wasnt with me i walked down that street in the afternoon and for some reason i felt creepy too.

i would hang in there and not force her into anything.

what could be causing this? some hormonal or brain changes which usually happens to all children at this age. so growing up?

at 3 my dd would also make up stories and v. violent and bloody story to explain something she is having a hard time understanding. she woudl create things that she had never been exposed to.

[Corinnabis]

same for mine

My 3.5 year old has also gone through this stage. We tried to watch some Winnie-the-Pooh on TV and the first 20 seconds of it totally freaked her out. She could repeat what happened frame by frame for months and was completely scared of Pooh because of it.

We've realized that she's just much more sensative than other kids and we have to take it slow. I think it's especially an issue b/c the 3-yo imagination is so active.

We just try to talk to her about it a lot. Not right at the moment, but later during calm, happy play time. Sometimes she brings it up, too. It helps us to relate to her fears, and it helps her to talk about it. I wouldn't try to use logic in these situations b/c so much is illogical to a child already. Really, why shouldn't something like Santa coming into our houses freak us out? Pretend and real are so closely connected for them, sometimes its tough to tell the difference.

And, if the thought of Disneyland is freaking her out, think about he damage that the reality of those huge characters walking around will do!