Ten Tips

On Addressing Kids Fears And Doubts

by Sandy Galea

1. 01

   Be ready - children, just like adults, will go through periods of doubt. Disbelief is the lot of the non-Christian, periods of doubt is the experience of the Christian. So expect that your children will go through periods of doubt just like you.

2. 02

   Be merciful to those who doubt (Jude 1:22). Our response to anyone experiencing doubt is always mercy. Sometimes the way children express things can be very cute or at times sound funny, but taking their issues seriously is important. Be careful not to belittle or make light of a child’s doubts.

3. 03

   When your child expresses doubts (i.e. God’s existence, Bible being true, Jesus’ resurrection…) stay calm. Children feel their parent’s anxiety and this can make them feel uncomfortable. Our anxiety can deter them from sharing their doubts in the future.

4. 04

   Be patient. It often takes a child a long time to express their thoughts. Try to fully understand their doubts before responding.

5. 05

   Normalise doubts. Reassure them that this is normal. Children often think there is something wrong with them if they’re unsure of something Mum and Dad think is true. Take them to heroes like David, Job and Thomas, who all went through periods of doubt.

6. 06

   Encourage your child to express their doubts by encouraging questions. Doubts will continue to grow if not expressed. Encouraging questions is one way of helping children express doubts.

7. 07

   Fears are very real for children. Night terrors, fear of the dark, fear of being alone, fear of the green and yellow monster under the bed… Encourage your child to talk to their Father in heaven about their fears and doubts. Sometimes this will mean children end up with a prayer that reads like a shopping list of all the things that terrify them, but speaking them out loud to their Father in heaven is great! They will eventually grow out of this mantra as their fears subside and their prayers will begin to vary.

8. 08

   Teach your child verses from scripture that address their fears or doubts. Put them on the fridge, on their bedroom walls. Say them, chant them, sing them - as you drive to school, as they fall asleep.

   • Proverbs 3:5-6
   • Psalm 18:2
   • Psalm 56:3-4
   • Psalm 118:6
   • James 1:5-8
   • 1 John 4:18
9. 09

   Appropriately share your fears and doubts with your child, and what you found helpful.

10. 10

    Read books that address fears and doubts appropriate for your child. The Storm That Stopped, by Alison Mitchell is a great retelling of Mark 4. Jesus asked his disciples, ‘Why are you afraid?’ It reminds us that we have nothing to fear because our trust is in Jesus, God’s Son. Or, for older children, the books by Lee Strobel are a great place to start in addressing doubts.

by Sandy Galea