3 Year Old Afraid of Thunderstorms

I told my son that the angels were bowling, too!

Could you try some white noise/music in his room at night (esp. the nights you think it might storm)? That might block out some of the noise.....

your child is terrified! its a stage and its not going to last 3 years! please comfort your scared child ( he shakes in fear!) a secure child is one whose needs are met promptly. If you ignore him and make him cry it out what kind of message are you sending him about your use when he neeeds you the most?

I found this on the Chicago's Children's Museum

Acknowledge the fear: Don't ignore or belittle your childís fears. No matter how unreasonable, the anxiety is real to the child, and may loom like a giant.

Name what is frightening: Identifying specifics may provide clues to help. For example, if the child is afraid of lightning, explain that it can't hurt us when we are safe inside. Many of us jump at the sound of thunder. Fear of loud noises is innate and perfectly normal, but the noise itself cannot harm us.

Stick to the facts: Simple truths are key. There won't be a blizzard in San Diego or a hurricane in Chicago. Don't sugarcoat, exaggerate or invent explanations. Fairy tales like bowling in the sky or moving furniture can backfire. Children may worry about falling bowling pins and couches. Offer honest information appropriate for the child's level. If you really don't know, make a point to find out together.

Try a "Fear Buster:" Listening to music, singing, reading stories, doing arts and crafts activities or relaxation exercises may be effective. Playing tapes of thunderstorms in sunny, non-threatening weather may also help desensitize a fearful child.

Monitor the media: When children see footage of tornados or hurricanes on TV, they might think itís happening right outside their house, or happening over and over again. And while the weather is capable of causing real devastation, there is no reason to alarm children about events they can't control. If you watch the news or read the paper with your child, you will be better able to correct any false assumptions.

Have a plan: Involve your child in storm readiness. Helping pack kits with weather radios, flashlights, jugs of water, and other basic needs will instill some sense of control. Design a plan in response to a weather emergency that could happen in your locale. Arrange for supplies, communication methods, care of pets, etc. The North Carolina Disaster Center advises, "Keep it simple enough so people can remember the important details."

Rehearse your plan: When she was twelve, Ann Gadzikowski, the museum's grants coordinator, hunkered in her fruit cellar as a tornado tore through Omaha, Nebraska. "I wasnít tremendously scared," recounts Gadzikowski, "because we had practiced so often."

Be patient: For those who experience weather trauma, some vestige of uneasiness may never quite subside. "Even thirty years later, muses Gadzikowski, "I get a little nervous in a house without a basement." Unreasonable, paralyzing fears may warrant counseling, but most children will work out their fears over time. Just as my mother discovered, children respond to serenity and assurances of safety. The kids are calmed, and so are we!

Be a weather "Study Buddy:" Learning together about weather will empower both you and your child. Children can learn to gauge the distance of a storm and what direction it is traveling.

~Maybe try making your own thunder by banging pots and pans~

I'm curious to know why you are reluctant to let him sleep in your bed when he's apparently terrified. Unless you have thunderstorms every other night year-round, what's wrong with letting him in your bed?
That said/asked, I agree with Heather B's and TT's replies.
Best of luck to you - your little boy will outgrow it sooner that you think.

I went through this last year when my daughter was 3 as well - she was terrified of storms and fireworks. Sometimes we would lay down in her bed until she fell asleep but that wasn't always possible, so we would let her keep a light on and I would tell her that I would be back to check on her. I would go back every five minutes or so and praise her. My husband also would take her to look out the window to see the lightning and say, Wow, how beautiful... She didn't think so at first but it's funny to hear her talk about storms today and how pretty they are. Anyway, it was a lot of work and it did take about 2-3 months but eventually she got over her fear. Just be very loving and patient. It will pass!

Yes, there is something you can do.............First off, you might let him stand outside and watch a thunderstorm if it isn't a really bad one...........and explain to him what is happening......since he is three, this is what I told my kids............my Mom told this to me, and I love storms.........

That the thunder and lightening is God or the Angels bowling up in heaven.........every time there is a strike, there is lightening..........she never really explained the rain, I guess I looked at it as tears........happy ones..........

I see you are in Indiana, so am I, and we have had a bunch of storms, so you must not be getting much sleep!!

Be sure he understands that while you can get hurt in a storm, most of the time you don't.........

It worked for my kids.....I hope it works for you......and don't panic........talk to him about the lightening and how pretty it lights up the sky......You know what he likes, so use things he can understand.

Good Luck and take care.

My Daughter is also scared of thunder storms and loud noise. She has had hearing problems for years. We have tried it all. Letting her watch the storms, saying God is bowling, with no help. We have tried letting her sleep with ear plugs in and that seems to help the night storms. I figure it's just a phase she'll out grow it.

My son is really scared of thunderstorms and he is two and 1/2. I have been doing the same thing for the past year with him. I told him thunder is only a sound and can not hurt us. Thunder is only outside and can not come in the house. We do several things to help him. During the day when a storm is coming I let him know and we listen for thunder and watch for lighting. Then if we hear the thunder we stand up hold hands and jump up and down to see if we can be louder than the thunder. We also sing lots of different rain/thunder/storm songs. I try doing other things but everything always stops and he would notice the storm. I bought him a pinwheel so he could blow when he heard the thunder to see if the spin lastest longer or shorter than the thunder-rumble. During the night if he wakes up I try to comfort him in his bed first, because I don't know if he is fully awake or just popped up and will go back to sleep. If he wakes up or the storm is really loud I just bring him in our bed and he snuggles with us. I bought him a flashlight to use and he can turn it on when he hears the thunder to make sure everything is alright. He is getting better and has even slept through some of the storms that have come through. It will take awhile for his fear to ease, but with comfort and love he will get through it.

Good luck.

It's never fun to see your child afraid of anything, and especially something in which you have no control over. Like several of the other Moms who responded, I, too, tell my 4-yr-old twins that the angels are bowling in Heaven. However, to make it even less frightening (since angels are still usually an "unknown" phenomenon to small children), I've personalized it. My husband's father passed away long before my children were born so they never got to meet him. However, the kids adore my father so they know how amazing Grandpas can be. They know Grandpa S. is in Heaven, and they know he used to love to bowl. Therefore, we associated thunder with Grandpa bowling with the angels in Heaven. Since we started doing this, the kids no longer get scared when they hear thunder and will actually make comments like "Grandpa is playing again!" or "Grandpa sure is loud". I'm not sure if you have a similar situation with a loved one who has passed, but if so, it may be worth giving it a try. Good luck!

I always told my boys that thunderstorms are the angels in heaven bowling, then when they got older I told them the truth. But it got them not to be afraid.