When it is just a little past sunset and the sky is getting to be dark. All sorts of things come into our minds.

It seems if we are walking we can hear things better. Like the leaves rushing around behind us.
Almost sounding like foot steps.

My daughter Angela loves the dark when it is summer time. It seems to just slip up on you because of the long lazy days.

However...now that school has started and it is darker out side in the morning when she has to leave for her school bus stop. She does not seem to like the dark so much.

In the winter time we do have more darkness. The day light does not stay around us as long. So all of our lives change a little. Maybe we have an earlier curfew or maybe in the mornings we walk with other children or our parents to our bus stops.

I know that Angela and I always walk most of the way to her bus stop together. Then as she walks on with friends I stand and watch to make sure she gets to her bus stop safely.

That seems to take the fear out of the early morning darkness for my daughter.

Some children are in general afraid of the dark. They think of scary movies they might have seen or think that there is a ghost in the closet. Of course we know there are no ghosts and that movies can not hurt us. But still the same the fear is there.

Night lights are a good way to help children feel in control of the dark around them. They can turn their night light on when ever they need it.

Sometimes leaving a bedroom door open just a little so a child can see a little light from the front room helps too. It also assures them mom and dad are still there and with them.

What are some other ways children can face the dark and not be afraid? All your ideas and comments are welcomed. This is a basic childhood fear and some of it even carries into adulthood.

How can we make our homes more friendly and safe in the dark? One way is to lock all the doors and windows. To leave a night time light on like the bathroom light. We do this in our home.

I prefer the tender more nurturing ways to chase away fear. What do you think?