Our daughter Kylie is panic stricken when it comes to Fire Works. She doesn't even like to go to a party if there is a chance of any. She is a triplet and her other two sisters love it. So it really makes it hard as a family to go to such an event.
We have tried head phones with music, ear plugs, holding her of course. But it doesn't seem to help. I'm not sure if it is a control thing or not...it doesn't appear that way. She really has the look of mass fear in her eyes.
If this is just a phase and there is no real solution, please share your trails and tribulations with me.
Thank you for your time.
Happy 4th of July!!!
D.
My 4 yr old is the same way. Last night I had to take him to the van to watch the fireworks cause he was having a meltdown fit as the people around us were setting off their little fireworks/sparkles. Then he fell asleep before the big fireworks started. I think it was a combination of him being tired and he has had ear issues. I think the loud noises may affect him more. I'm hoping that he outgrows this fear too.
my son was in the middle of both our girls, he was terrified of anything that was loud....he got better as he got older ..... I'm not sure why he was scared, but now the louder the better ,he is the crew chief for my cousin (race car)The races is his favorite place to be , oh and shooting his guns or the small cannon we use for the 4th....
hopefully time and patience will do the trick...seeing the other girls aren't afarid and maybe them telling her it is okay,it won't hurt her ...maybe she will belive it sooner or later!!!!!
Good Luck...B.
One of my preemie twin granddaughters, who has some neurological problems, has always been upset by fireworks and baloons. As a young child, the presence of balloons, loud noises in a parade, fireworks etc. made her panic and cry. She is 19 now, and called me from a cottage up north last night to say that the fireworks outside were really getting on her nerves, so she was inside trying to ignore them. We had a whole discussion with a professional at Children's Hospital years ago, and he suggested she try to desensitize herself by popping a bunch of balloons herself. She's never felt it was worth it to go through it. It's something to do with her nervous system, I guess, but she manages quite well most of the time. Just tries to avoid these situations or talk herself out of being upset when presented with sudden, loud noises. I doubt she'll ever enjoy fireworks!
Hi,
My vote is that it is not a control thing at all.
I'm 45 and never liked fireworks, actually terrified me as a child. My now 13yr old daughter felt the same. The joy of the colors is lost in the tension of waiting for the noise. We hate any loud startling noise. If the older kids wanted to see the town fireworks display, I would gladly stay home with my daughter. The book "Highly Sensitive Child" helped me understand myself and my daughter, we're just wired a bit differently. :)
When our children were little I would sit inside the house with the kids while daddy lit sparklers (placed into the yard) and low and no noise fireworks. We had to assure our daughter that the display would not make noise and had her wear headphones (with no music, the kind for yard work). We started with sparklers and after each display we would check in with her. She slowly became more and more comfortable.
Surprisingly, for the last few years my daughter and husband have put on their own fireworks show. When they go to the fireworks dealer tent in the parking lot of Meijer, they ask for all the no noise and low noise displays. They take about 40 mins talking with the dealer to make sure they know what they are buying. My daughter feels much better knowing what each one will do before they light it. She even explains it to everyone watching so that we won't be tense. :)
Best wishes.
Hi D., I am also a triplet mom. My trio just turned 6 on Sunday. My son Logan was terrified of the fireworks for the longest time. He would hide behind me the entire time. Just in the past2 yrs he has been ok with them. It was probably just the loud noises. Hopefully she will grow out of it as well. Good Luck.
My oldest son was the same way when he was young. I allowed him to stay indoors and watch TV when we went to parties and the rest of us enjoyed the fireworks. My younger son loved them so I didn't want to stop his fun on the holiday. I wouldn't make too big a deal about it. My oldest son loves them now and we all enjoy them together.
My advice from a mother who has a daughter that just turned 11 and this year was the first year she sat thru the entire show! Finally! She likes it now. When she was little she and I would have a party in the car looking thru the sunroof with the music on and the rest of my family would sit on the lawn and watch. Try not to push her into situations where there may be loud noise or flashy lights. Once we went on a cruse ship at 15 min onto the ship they tooted the horn and she went running like a crazed kid same with the circus we would end up leaving or my husband would walk her around until the show was over. I’m sorry I know how you feel. My biggest concern is that it was something else that we could put our finger on? Your child will grow out of it and I believe it is common. However, it may take a few years.
I never went to fireworks till I was prob. 20... the loud noises terrified me.
I also hated balloon popping and other loud noises... nothing really helped. I think it was part phobia and part loud noise sensitivity.
4 yrs old?
It's a phase, I'd wager. My oldest had a problem with fireworks too at that age. He got over them.
I will suggest that there might be an issue with the noise factor. It may irritate her ears. I think that was part of the problem with my son. So you might want to have her hearing checked. If it's fine, give it time; she'll outgrow it.
