How to Talk to Your Child About Closet Monsters

One of the greatest gifts of childhood is a powerful imagination. Kids can create whole fantasy worlds, imaginary friends, mythical creatures — but there’s a downside: irrational fears. The dark, the bogeyman, and most common of all: the monster in the closet!

But as parents, the last thing we want to do is discourage our kids from dreaming. To say “monsters aren’t real” is a slippery slope. Poke a hole in their credulity and soon they’ll be questioning Santa and the Tooth Fairy, which are — let’s face it — very useful fictions for parents. So here are some pro tips for how to talk to your kids about closet monsters without crushing their imaginations.

Use Science

Gather some zoological reference material. Get them to describe their monster and cross-reference with the lizard, mammal, or deep-sea marine life it most closely resembles. A quick description of their habitat and diet will soon show your child that their bedroom is the last place this particular menace would want to be.

Uncover The House

Kids fear the unknown more than anything else. Familiarize them not just with the rooms they inhabit, but the bones of the house as well. What’s on the other side of the closet wall? Where are all the entrances and exits? Is the basement or attic spooky, or just dark? At the very least this will show them that if something is coming to get them, there’s very little chance it’s coming through the closet.

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Plan Your Defenses

When pressed, harness the power of your kid’s imagination. If they are skilled in creating fears, they’re likely just as skilled in defeating them. Maybe a flashlight is the monster’s weakness? Or a magic blanket or bedtime spell? Or better yet, remind them that a clean room and well-brushed teeth are the best ways to repel monsters.

Relate, Monster To Monster

Admit to them your secret: that you too were harassed by a monster as a child, and you too were afraid. But you overcame it through strength, courage, and resourcefulness. And they can too.

As JFK famously said, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” If your home is safe, then your kid really has nothing to be afraid of. Except centipedes, which they should be scared of — they are very creepy and crawl right on you!