by Brandi Borland

Created on: October 03, 2007

Yellow eyes peeking out from under the bed? Big hairy purple feet showing from underneath the curtains? Or maybe low growls are heard from that dark closet? A child's imagination can go wild in the darkness of his room at night, which can make sleeping difficult for his parents too. Sometimes it works to simply repeat to your child, over and over again, that there are no such things as monsters. And... sometimes it doesn't.

For a lot of children a night-light is all it takes to keep the monsters at bay. If just one light isn't working, purchase multiple lights of different shapes and colors, and place them in different locations around your child's room. Take your child along with you when you shop for a light, so he can pick out his own in his favorite color or character. An alternative to a night-light is a toy lantern on his headboard, or give him a flashlight so that he may turn it on at any time in the night to light up those dark corners of his room. There are also amusing ways of using light to take his mind off the boogie-monster. A lot of companies manufacture lamps that cast a dim glow of dancing shapes or stars on the bedroom ceiling. These lamps are bright enough to light up the spooky darkness but dim enough not to interrupt your child's peaceful slumber.

You can also spray the monsters away, using "Industrial Strength Monster Spray". In the hair care section of many department stores, you can find inexpensive (empty) squirt bottles, usually in a wide variety of colors. It is best to purchase one that is fairly clear so that the contents of the bottle may be seen from the outside. Make a colorful label with the words "Monster Spray" written in fun writing across it. Next, fill the bottle with tap water. You may also add a few drops of food coloring or mix a teaspoon of glitter to make your spray even more interesting. Explaining to your child that this special spray rids her room of all fearful critters, walk around the room giving a few sprays to the closet, under the bed, and where ever else she tells you that spooks may be lurking.

A silly way to scare the creatures off, and perhaps get a few giggles, is to set up a "Monster Trap". Take an empty cardboard box, no matter the size, and attach a small bell to the box. Allow your child to draw or decorate the box if you think it will help to include her in the project. Turning the box over, open end down, prop a side of it up with a ruler. Set this "trap" up at bedtime, telling your little one that it's a special trap to catch anything that might even think about entering his room. Let him set the trap up, and trip it to see that it works. The ruler will almost always stay in place when pushed into carpeted floors. For hard surface floors, you may want to use a spot of putty to make sure the trap isn't tripped in the night. Most likely, your child will be so wrapped up in the thought and assembly of the trap that it may take the edge off his imaginary enemies.

There are many popular books and videos available to purchase that deal with this troublesome phase. Sometimes it helps to make up your own story or 'experience you went through' as a child with the closet monsters.

Last but not least: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Make friends with the goblins under the bed, having your child leave cookies and small "prizes" for them. Tell him that all they are looking for is a little bedtime snack or a teddy bear to hold while they drift off to sleep too.

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