Fireworks - My DD TERRIFIED Of Them

[1xmom]

My dd is 6 and is literally terrified of fireworks. Last year she was really afraid of them and about a week or so ago she told me she didn't want to go see them. No problem, I was tired and was looking forward to going to bed early. Then my cousin comes to my house after dinner and asked me if we were going to the fireworks, my dd said she wanted to go then. I told her that was fine, but it was going to be the same as last year. I also told her that the fireworks were in the sky and they would not land on her. Well, we get to the place just before they are ready to start. My dd immediately starts getting worked up. I had her sit in my lap and one really small one went off and she was cool. But then they started getting bigger and louder. She was terrified so we were there a whole 2 mins. and I packed everything up so we could leave. When I turned around to pick up the blanket, she was gone. I did not see her anywhere. My heart starts racing, but I try to remain calm. I then look across the street and there she is standing. I run over to her and she was all shook up. I told her she should've stayed w/me, I couldn't scold too hard b/c she was visibly shaken by the noise. We then left and my car was parked a whole two blocks up the street and my dd literally ran those two blocks. Everytime she would turn around there was an other big one going off and she is so scared. We then get to the car and she wants to go straight home - (do not pass go, do not collect $200). It was just an awful July 4th. We then ended up talking about it the next day, and I reiterated to her to never walk away from me and she understood. She said she was never ever going to another fireworks again though.
So, how was your 4th w/your children?

[celia]

my dd is still just a baby so she was in bed asleep by fireworks time. I just wanted to say that as a child I was JUST like your DD- terrified of fireworks- thunder too. I just didn't like loud noises. I think it's pretty normal. (I don't think that's what you were asking- but your post just reminded me so much of little me I had to post).

Oh- and I would watch them with my fingers in my ears. I liked to SEE them, just not to hear them. Maybe that would help your dd next year if she's still scared, or maybe ear plugs?

[Lousli]

My daughter loved them when she was about 8 months, then the next 2 years was terrified. This year she said she was ready, so we talked a lot about the noise, lots of people, the ground sometimes even shakes, but how pretty they are in the sky. We talked about it many times for about two weeks until we felt sure she was making a choice with full understanding. Then we bought 2 different kinds of earplugs. She was a little nervous when we first got there because people setting of small fireworks and those high-pitched ones before we got the earplugs in. But once we did, and the big ones started, she was rooted to the spot and her eyes were HUGE. She kept telling us how cool they were.

[earthflower]

ds saw them for the first time this year in lake tahoe they do a huge show but we stayed across the lake on the beach so there was hardly any noise just lights on the lake, ds was in awe I'm sure he would have been freaked out if he heard them go off (he just turned 2)

[SabraMamma]

When I was little my family went somewhere where you parked the car and then sat on top of the car to watch. When the fireworks started I would get in the car, close the door, and watch from inside. I hated the noise!! My DD is terrified of thunder and loud noises but somehow manages to stay calm during fireworks. She LOVES them and talks about them all throughout the year. This year she got a little worked up when the first started but then she either held my hand or sat in her daddy's lap (20 minute show) and she was fine.

[onlyzombiecat]

My dd (6) is bothered by loud noises. We went to see fireworks but we parked a bit away and dd and dh watched from the car with the windows rolled up. I got out and stood next to the car to watch. Since it was not loud inside and dd had the security of the car she enjoyed the fireworks very much.

[Maple Leaf Mama]

We went to a friend's house where they did their own fireworks. DD had never seen them before. She was fine for the smaller ones. But as soon as a louder one went off, she started freaking. Clinging to me and crying to go inside. I tried to interest her in them--look at all the pretty colours etc. But in the end, she and I went in and watched them from the safety of the living room window.
She talks now about the pretty colors, but just this week, if she hears a loud noise, she'll start to cry and say No Fireworks! (Even if it's just the vacuume making a nasty noise)

[AuntNi]

So sorry your DD was so upset. And how terrified you must have been when she disappeared!

My 4-yo has always been terrified of fireworks, from the time she was 3 months old. She even cries briefly whenever they set off a couple of fireworks after a homerun at Cardinals games. I definitely can see it would be surprising to have 50,000 screaming fans on their feet, then fireworks on top of it.

We've never forced the July 4th issue, although this year she decided she wanted to try them. Luckily for her, it was pouring rain at the time we needed to leave, so we just went to bed instead. We can hear them from the house, and she was literally clinging to me in bed, and said, "I'm really glad we didn't go to the fireworks."

The strange thing is that DD's not afraid of thunder or storms at all. I'm kind of nervous of thunderstorms, but I must have done a good job hiding that from her (yay me!) I'm not sure exactly what about fireworks scares her - whether it's the noise or the sight. I guess we'll maybe mention it again next year.

[limabean]

We went and watched them at our local lake -- I was a little worried that DS (20 months) would be afraid of the crowds and the noise, but he did great. I showed him a few videos of them on youtube.com first to prepare him, and he really seemed to enjoy the show. He had a look of baby-wonder on his face that was just so sweet, and every once in a while he'd look at me and say quietly, "Boom! Boom!"

It's one of those things, though, that little kids can be totally fine with and then develop a fear of as they grow older and are more aware of danger.

[Oka-san]

Aw, 1Xmom, I’m sorry your Fourth worked out that way. It surely doesn’t sound like any fun at all, and I’m sorry you and your DD both got scared. I hope you’re both feeling a bit better now!

As for my DD, she’s 11 months and her reaction was interesting. We sat out in a field to watch the town show, which was pretty far away. Before the big one started someone on the block lit off a bunch of little ones, and DD LOVED them. She went crazy with excitement, laughing and shrieking and just going insane with happiness. Then she saw the bigger ones (much quieter and farther away) and liked them too, pointing and commenting and acting excited, but after about 10 minutes she started getting scared, whimpering and crying a little. We were glad we weren’t closer after she stared to get scared like that. Then she just turned away and paid attention to other things. By the time the show was over she was almost asleep.

I wonder why she got scared only after watching for a while?

[LynnS6]

Both of my kids are terrified of them.

Where we live, it's legal to light off some ground fireworks, so there's often a neighborhood show with the kids in the neighborhood lighting off 'fountains' (they spark) and smoke bombs. When ds was 2, he was so traumatized by that event (not even the big ones in the public display, he was so scared we didn't even try that), that he refused to go outside AT ALL the next day (this is a child who would do anything to go outside).

This year he is 5. For the first time, he actually wanted to buy some fireworks. We bought a few that didn't have big noises. He was OK for about 45 minutes of those, but lost it with the "finale" which had a little bit of crackling and a whistle. I went to the big show without him (thank you dh!). I had shown him some fireworks on the computer with the sound at average volume and he declared "I do NOT want to go to the fireworks."

Dd is 2 this year, and she fell apart with the small scale neighborhood fireworks. So, someone stayed inside with her. didn't even attempt the big show.

A LOT of kids are scared by the loud noises. I remember being terrified of thunderstorms. My older brother was terrified of fireworks. There's really not much you CAN do, other than not go, and acknowledge that it was simply too much for her. Maybe suggest that when she's a few years older, she might like to try again.

[1xmom]

I think next year if she brings it up again, we will go to my high school and watch from there. A co-worker told me that were she was and it wasn't too noisy from there. Plus it was alot less people. But we'll see what a year may bring.

[LynnS6]

Get earplugs too! Or industrial ear protectors!

[sunnmama]

Dd (5) is very afraid of fireworks, so we skipped them this year.

I was terrified as a child, as well. I remember clinging to my mother--or hiding under the blanket--and wishing for it to just end. So I am pretty sensitive to dd's anxiety in this area, and happy to keep her home.