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Haibunda
Saturday, 22 Apr 2023 22:05 WIB
Children often still often feel insecure when they are around people they perceive as strangers. Then is it normal for toddlers to experience this? How to deal with children who are afraid of other people?
As they get older, children begin to realize that their parents and siblings are the most important people in their life. This condition is also prone to make toddlers afraid of strangers.
Children are afraid to meet other people
Fear and anxiety to meet strangers or stranger anxiety is a normal emotional phase that occurs when a child cries or feels distressed when strangers approach him.
This condition is similar to separation anxiety or separation anxiety, in the sense that the child suddenly realizes that he is separated from his parents. Both of these situations trigger reactions of fear and crying.
Stranger anxiety not only experienced by infants, but also children under five. Most often occurs in children between 12 and 24 months of age. Toddlers tend to see anyone other than their parents as scary, including family members they don’t see often.
Quoted from What to Expect, toddlers who are afraid of strangers are actually quite natural. This is a normal part of development and a sign that children have a strong bond with their parents.
Anxiety about meeting strangers usually goes away on its own with time. In infants and toddlers, this situation can continue until around 2 years of age, but some occur sooner.
How to deal with children who are afraid of other people
As with many other stages of emotional development in children, remaining patient while accompanying them plays a big role. Including when dealing with children who are afraid of strangers.
There are several approaches to dealing with children who are afraid of other people that you can try to apply:
1. Give the child time
Basically, this phase can go away on its own as the child gets older. Some last for months, some for years. But sooner or later, the child learns that his suspicions of strangers will pass.
2. Convey the child’s condition to family and relatives
Don’t forget to tell other family members and relatives that your little one is going through a phase of anxiety when meeting strangers. This will help them to understand awkward situations later. Also mention that the child may need more time to ‘warm up’.
Check out further information about children’s anxiety when meeting strangers on the following page, Mother!
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