Friday night we went up to my in-laws for dinner. This spring they decided to try raising chickens and the chickens are left out to roam the yard. Well, one of their roosters attacked Lucas. He had a couple of scrapes on his shoulder but was other wise all right. However, because family from out of town is visiting we were back up there again on Sunday and Lucas is now afraid of the chickens. Whenever one gets close to him, he runs in the other direction or to the closest adult. I understand his fear, I was attacked by a rooster when I was around his age and didn't like chickens for a long time either, but I don't want him to be afraid of them because then he doesn't want to be out in grandma and grandpa's yard. We can't put the chickens in a pen because they are free ranging chickens and are only locked up at night. So, any suggestions on helping a child scared of an animal?
- Megan -
2 comments:
I wouldn't push it. If it were my child, I'd tell him it's okay to feel scared, because the chickens surprised him, and gradually try to get him used to them again. Are there baby chicks he can associate with to try to get comfortable with the idea of "birds are fun" using a smaller, cuter, less threatening substitute? I think the last thing you'd want to do is force them together. It would make the child feel like adults don't care that he's honestly afraid, and it sounds like he has good reason to be frightened (at least from a little kid's point of view).
I like what Alyssa said. Forcing him to come face to face with his fear won't work - he's too little. He WILL outgrow it, if you are just patient with him. My daughter used to be TERRIBLELY afraid of almost all animals. Slowly over time, with exposure (not up close) she got over it. She still gets a little nervous sometimes, but she is much better.
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