While there are times children need to tolerate their fright order to learn from new situations, it isn't helpful to minimize deny their fear. We may believe we're reassuring when we say, "That's nothing to be afraid of!" but this response can, in fact, children by making them feel ashamed of an emotion that is both common and unavoidable. For healthy development, children need to be able to identify their feelings and to receive acknowledgment, understanding, and comfort when they convey these feelings to adults. Instead of downplaying children's fear, we need to acknowledge it and then show them how to manage it.