The Boy Who Was Afraid of Monsters
Do you know a child who has a fear of monsters, ghouls, or ghosts? Have you wondered how that fear might be lessened? Did you know that children often do not speak of their fears and that parents, guardians and carers may be oblivious to their terrors, or mis-interpret them? For some children, a fear of monsters stops them going to sleep at night and prevents them returning to sleep if they wake up.
This story, based on research about children’s fears, cross-cultural and historical narratives about monsters, and research on listening to and speaking with children will help to answer those questions. The story brings hope to children who are afraid, and models effective communication strategies for managing those fears.
This is the story of Charlie Healy whose life is quite perfect. Except for one thing. He has an enormous, silent fear of a monster. The arrival of the dreaded Scartledder in Charlie’s life, the most fearful monster of them all, had been unexpected and abrupt. He feels very alone in his fear, believes he could never admit it to anybody, even to say the word aloud seems dangerous.
The Boy Who Was Afraid of Monsters tells the story of how Charlie came to understand his fear of monsters and of how the adults around him found ways to understand and communicate with him, transforming Charlie’s fear in the process.
Many children fear situations and things that adults and other children do not find threatening or frightening. Childhood fears are common but often people do not know what to do to help lessen children’s fears. Research shows that children’s fears can be lessened using a variety of key strategies, which we have incorporated in the stories in this series.
Children and those who care for them – parents, guardians, teachers – will relate to the issues raised in The Boy Who Was Afraid of Monsters. Reading this story, they will find reassurance and guidance in the simple and accessible approaches to understanding and alleviating children’s fears.
As well as providing a stimulating and companionable reading experience with your child, The Boy Who Was Afraid of Monsters takes the reader on a journey of understanding and action about a common childhood fear. It provides a storytelling opportunity to move fear from the private world of the child to a space where fears may be heard, shared, scrutinised, and potentially resolved.
The Boy Who Was Afraid of Monsters is the second in the series, Understanding Children 1, fictional storybooks based on research about children’s social and emotional lives, good listening and effective communication.
Text © 2005, 2014 Joan Hanafin and Marie Flynn, GREEN BIKE BOOKS All rights reserved
For more information about the Understanding Children series on children’s fears, email greenbikebooks@gmail.com
For more information about listening courses, email info.listeningcourses@gmail.com
ACCESS MORE BOOKS IN THE SAME SERIES
The Boy Who Was Afraid of Dogs
The Girl Who Wished Her Parents Would Stop Fighting
The Girl Who Was Once Afraid of Bullies
LISTENING COURSES 