And getting them to talk about what is going on inside their little heads? Forget it. They have a hard time taking a step back from the things that scare them, looking at those fears head on, and rationally understanding the root cause of what it is that makes them so frightened.

Kids aren’t as rational as we are, because their brains are in a constant state of development. Little kids have big fears, and getting them to muster up courage in the face of something that inspires sheer terror is not just hard, it can be a monumental challenge. It’s just a struggle we’ve had since birth). They’ve never been chased, bitten or attacked. (And, lest you ask- no! There are no bad experiences with animals. In short, it’s become a bit of a problem. If Lulu so much as tilts her head in their direction, they run down the hall screaming, find their way out the front door and try desperately to break into my car.

When my boys go to my sister’s house and see their cousins’ adorable golden retriever puppy, all hell breaks loose. I’m talking about a fear of all dogs, big or small. I’m not talking about quietly clinging to my leg if they encounter a large German Shepherd on an empty street. “ Reading Wednesdays” is back! This post was written by media specialist Lauren Davis, as part of my children’s book series in which Lauren and I take turns sharing our favorite kids lit recommendations.

Being brave books for pre kindergarten