What Are Children Afraid of According to Their Age?

As babies and children grow, they develop their understanding of their environment, their relationships with others, and also with themselves. These new perspectives bring about new apprehensions and fears, which are linked to their stage of development. That’s why it is very common to find similar fears in children of the same age. Here is a non-exhaustive list of fears that children may experience, by age:

From Birth to 1 Year

In infants, fears focus on their immediate environment and anything sudden:

• From 0 to 6 months: fear of losing support, loud noises, and objects suddenly entering their field of vision.
• From 7 months to 1 year: anxiety over separation from parents, fear of abandonment, fear of baths, unfamiliar faces, and loud noises.
• At 1 year: these fears are the same, with the addition of a fear of physical injuries.

From 2 to 4 Years

Around the age of 2, children’s fears shift toward anything animated. People, animals, large objects all are a cause for concern, especially if they make loud, low noises like a vacuum cleaner, washing machine, alarm, or kitchen robot. A subtle distinction arises when it comes to fears centered around people. In this case, it's not so much the noise, but the appearance that frightens them. This includes masked people like clowns or mascots in theme parks, or even Santa Claus in a mall. These fears are usually temporary, such as when a child encounters a large dog during a walk. Children also fear the absence of things that reassure them: their parents, the light, or their favorite stuffed animal.

From 4 to 8 Years

At 4 years old, children still fear the dark, animals, injuries, being alone, or being separated from their parents. However, their fears are no longer just linked to their immediate environment. Some fears are related to distant realities, such as wars, terrorist attacks, and other disasters they may have heard about on the news. By the age of 5, children might also be afraid of “bad” people, like thieves or kidnappers. Specific fears also start to appear, like fear of insects, doctors, or imaginary creatures (monsters or witches).

From 8 to 12 Years

By age 8, a new type of fear emerges: social fears, stemming from concerns about what others think of them. These can be school-related (fear of homework or tests) or relational (fear of how others perceive their physical appearance, fear of disappointing their parents). Although they are no longer as afraid of supernatural creatures, they still harbor fear of "evil" people.

From 12 to 18 Years

During adolescence, your child seeks to belong to a group and be accepted. Thus, they continue to face social fears, such as the fear of presenting orally in class. Additionally, there’s the fear for their physical safety (assaults at school or in the street). As children’s fears expand into larger environments, they begin to fear events with a broader impact over time. This includes fear of the future, making life choices, and navigating the adult world. There is also concern about global and societal issues, like climate change.