Most of our fears as young kids revolve around nighttime. As we grow up, the tools we’re taught stay with us. Whether you’ve got young ones or older ones (or fears yourself), you can keep it simple with these ways my husband and I fight fears with our kids.
What Catholic Parents Can Do When Kids Are Afraid
1. Bless Their Room
We have blessed ourselves and our whole house. It makes us feel the presence of God watching over us. Entrusting our home and our family to God means we’re not giving any evil power.
Powerless evil? Yep. Reminding a kid your house is blessed and they are baptized–marked permanently on the soul as God’s own child– helps fight fears with the knowledge and confidence of faith.
2.Teach them the St Michael the Archangel Prayer
I didn’t remember many prayers as a child. When my mother taught me the St Michael Prayer, it stuck. I knew his epic image from artwork around church and on prayer cards. The devil didn’t stand a chance against his might. Help them learn it by heart, and they will carry it through their life.
3. Salt Under Pillow… Not Too Much!
Our Catholic faith has some interesting tools, one of which is exorcism or blessed salt. Multiple Catholic friends have advised us to put a pinch of salt under our kids’ pillows when fighting nightmares or fears.
Apart from the spiritual power, our kids found relief when they reached under and felt it there. Make sure to specify that only parents can put special salt under a pillow, or you might end up with an oversalted mattress!
4. “Anti-Monster Spray” AKA Holy Water
I confess that I used detangler spray once when I couldn’t find the holy water. I grabbed it and sprayed it under her bed, the air, and the closet (which is not a concern for these Monsters, Inc. fans). I called it anti-monster spray. She went to bed with a smile!
Though we’ve considered putting holy water in a humidifier or an essential oil diffuser, our less-desperate selves decided it’s likely sacrilegious. Instead, simply bless your kids with holy water before school, a big game, bedtime, or travel. Young ones will grow up understanding that fears flee in the face of faith.
A sign of the cross is powerful, too, marking yourself or your child with Christ.
5. Sing “Be Not Afraid” or Other Hymns
Singing is also a great way to soothe children and fight fears. There are so many great messages in praise and worship songs on the radio and in hymns. Traditional ones like “Salva Regina” are wonderful, too!
Find a good “earworm” for your family to sing anytime, especially when scared. A few about being brave include “Be Not Afraid” sung here by Father Sandesh Manuel and Lauren Daigle’s “Hold On To Me.”
6. Guardian Angels Prayer
“Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day be at my side to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.”
Our toddler makes it a point to recite this prayer, the only one she admits knowing, at bedtime, family prayer, Mass, and before meals. It’s more than just cute. It tells a child that they have a special guardian always with them, even if they don’t see their parents who are in another room
7. Memorize Scripture
The Word of God is powerful and effective! You can memorize Psalm 23 directly or with this song by Leanna Crawford.
8. Stories About Bravery
Small but mighty! Tales like David and Goliath are great to reference in times of trouble, especially when we are (or feel) small.
Of course! We can always reach for our beads and prayer ropes in times of need, peace, or fear.
10. The Ten Word Prayer
Sometimes we need the comfort of the simplest prayers. The shortest prayer is Jesus’ name. The next shortest prayer is only ten words in English: “I claim the protection of the Blood of the Lamb!”
It can help a child feel powerfully protected in big and small moments! You can create your own ten-word prayers, too, recalling each word by using your rosary beads or fingers.
I hope this helps you fight fears with your little ones, too! St Joseph, terror of demons, pray for our families and us.
When I am afraid, I will trust in you, O God.
Psalm 56:3-4
Image: Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash
