Afraid of the Dark? A Bedtime Story to Beat Nighttime Fears
My child who's scared the moment the lights go off
A child who's so brave during the day suddenly pulls the blanket up to their nose the moment the bedroom light goes out. Sometimes they even tremble, pointing at a shadow on the wall and calling it a monster.
Fear of the dark is a very common feeling for children this age. Rather than scolding with "There's no monster," looking into that fear together is the first step to reassuring your child.
Curious about the story of the fear-of-the-dark tale? Let's explore its lesson through the illustrations. Meet the key scenes of the story, too. Read the fear-of-the-dark story with your child and talk it over together. We've gathered many stories around 24. It's Okay in the Dark, I'm Right Here! — from bedtime fear stories and helping toddlers overcome fear to bedtime stories.
Nighttime fear only grows if you ignore it
When you brush off a child's fear with "It's nothing," the child feels their emotions aren't being acknowledged, and their anxiety actually grows.
On the other hand, when you first read the feeling with "You were scared, weren't you," and then check the source of the fear together, vague terror turns into a visible fact. Repeat this process, and your child builds the strength to handle fear on their own.
Bori and Dad's shadow adventure
In the story It's Okay in the Dark, I'm Right Here!, Bori is scared of the pointy shadow on the wall, calling it a monster. Dad quietly comes in, turns on a flashlight, and says, "You were scared. That's okay."
Then he shines the light on the shadows one by one. The pointy monster is Dad's coat, the round shadow is a teddy bear, the wobbling shadow is the curtain! This time Bori holds the flashlight and checks for himself — and there's nothing scary at all.
3 ways to beat fear, learned with Tangobook
The heart of this story is three ways that are easy for children to remember. One, say "I'm scared"! Two, look at things one by one with a little light! Three, hold the hand of the person beside you!
Tangobook stories repeat these steps like a refrain, helping children naturally recall them on a scary night. The order of expressing a feeling, checking what's really there, and feeling warmth settles into a child's heart.
A bedtime shadow game to try together at home
After reading the book, shine a little flashlight on the shadows around the room one by one at bedtime. The game of asking "What could this be?" and checking each one turns fear into fun.
Then leave a soft night light on and say, "Mom and Dad are right here." When you let your child know it's okay to say "I'm scared" when they're scared, they grow into a child who expresses feelings honestly.
It's okay in the dark, because I'm right here
Having checked each source of fear one by one, Bori now knows that the dark is simply the lights being off. With the warmth of someone beside you and a little light, even the night becomes cozy.
Hori's Everyday Stories warmly capture safety, emotions, and habits at a child's eye level. Turn the first page together with your child through a 7-day free trial at Tangobook right now. Ad-free stories you can share with peace of mind are waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What should I do when my child is afraid of the dark?
A. Rather than insisting it's not scary, reassure them that you're right beside them. Saying "It's okay in the dark" while doing an imaginative game together in the dark makes the fear shrink little by little.
Q. Can a fear-of-the-dark story help?
A. Watching the story's hero overcome the dark gives your child courage too. Reading a fear-of-the-dark story together helps them learn that night isn't only a scary time.
Q. My child is scared to sleep alone at night.
A. Keep a small night light on or let them fall asleep with a favorite stuffed animal to create a reassuring environment. As trust that you're nearby builds up, the strength to fall asleep on their own grows little by little.
Classic Stories to Read Together
If you enjoyed this story, try reading these classic stories together too.
- 01. Eat Everything for Rainbow Power!
- 02. Brush-Brush, Sparkle-Sparkle!
- 03. Bubble-Bubble, Squeaky-Clean!
- 04. Potty All Done, Well Done!
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