My 18 month old is afraid of cartoon elephants..??? on how you handle fears....

[two-foxes]

So, while watching an episode of Mickeys Clubhouse, we discovered my son is TERRIFIED of cartoon elephants....doesn't matter size, color or the smile on its face...if it is a cartoon elephant, it is game over. Even Lumpy scares him! My mom had just gotten him that bounce and learn pony for Christmas, which includes an elephant in the zoo scene and he fell off the pony in fear! I am not worried about the fear itself, I know it is normal for tots to have this, but my question is this....

Do you guys try to expose your kids to things they fear or do you try to "shelter" them by removing them from the fear....I get torn....I want to let him know it is okay and no harm will come to him from Lumpy, but he is in such a panic, that it breaks my heart! Any suggestions, or just wait it out til he can rationalize it better?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Do you guys try to expose your kids to things they fear or do you try to "shelter" them by removing them from the fear....I get torn.... Any suggestions, or just wait it out til he can rationalize it better?

I would neither try to expose him more or try to avoid elephants. Just deal with them as they come along. Fears are very normal, especially since your guy is so young. He will eventually figure out that they're no big deal but he doesn't have that ability yet. If you take him to WDW and he freaks out when he sees the Dumbo ride, I would just walk away from it. He's not ready yet. He'll get over it soon enough but in the meantime, just give him reassurance when he's scared and let him figure it out on his own. If you make a big deal out of a fear, it will tend to hang on even longer.

 

[TravelinMommy]

We were watching that episode this morning too. I wish I had advice, my 19 month really hasnt shown any fear for anything (which isnt really a good thing)


I would probably suggest that if you see an elephant either in a book or a show, just explain to him what an elephant is...and make tell him what sound an elephant makes and why it might have a long trunk....this will get their mind off of thinking that its scary.

 

[VBsHustla]

I am afraid of most birds (especially ostriches!) and I don't think my mother keeping me away from birds has helped. I am still especially freaked out when I see most birds!

I'd say to neither avoid nor overly expose your son to elephants. Deal with them as they come.

I had a particularly frightening sighting on the safari in the AK! It was pretty funny to be the only non-child screaming at an ostrich!

 

[two-foxes]

Thanks for the advice! It is just weird because it literally came out of no where! He has shown an expressed interest in pictures of elephants since this, both real and cartoon, that are in his two favorite books. He is now pausing on those pictures, asking about the trunk, etc, but no signs of fears from the books. Ahhh, the minds of 18 month olds

So, we will avoid the "Hula Tulip" episode of Mickey's Clubhouse from now on and just deal with the rest as it comes along!

 

[dancin'girl]

My DS (18 mos.) is also scared of Lumpy - so strange! He is scared of the beaver on Tigger and Pooh, and the puppets from the "Sharing Show" on PBS Sprout.
I don't try to avoid the shows, my DD enjoys watching them. So does DS, for that matter! I just comfort him when he is scared. I am hoping that he will eventually grow out of it!