Formulas for overcoming night terrors (which should be done in summer)

GIRONAIt's the night, the darkness... That's responsible for their fear. Not seeing clearly, among other things, sets off an inner alarm. Then, distrust, discomfort, and a feeling of helplessness increase; and anguish and fear appear, even making them imagine a monster is coming. However, the day is simply ending, and everything that's enigmatic about the darkness is calm and warm. It's enough to show these qualities to the child or young person (and be with them) for them to savor them. Summer can be a great time: the cool night air invites you to go outside as the day fades. Besides, these are ideal months for stargazing and doing all kinds of outdoor activities, not to mention summer camps and summer retreats, where nighttime games are—for those who have already grown out of them—true fun.

"It's important to know how to take care of children's fears," emphasizes Núria Casanovas, a child and adolescent psychologist. This doctor recently heard a case about some counselors from some colonies who, during a night game, jokingly said that a volcano was going to explode. "And the kids Scary deaths. Some people are particularly sensitive or don't understand double entendres. "Some occurrences cause us psychologists a lot of work!" admits this expert, who, to mitigate fear, suggests that neighborhood leaders anticipate that they'll feel a joke at night. "This doesn't take away from the humor or the complicity, but it does help children maintain a certain sense of control."

Why does it appear? According to Casanovas, vice president of the social intervention section of the Official College of Psychology of Catalonia (COPC), "darkness reduces all the stimuli that allow us to observe, which is why fear appears in the face of possible danger." This emotion, very common during childhood, does not have to be negative. It is a normal and necessary behavior for evolutionary development and naturally decreases with age. "Fear is one of the most necessary emotions for survival. It has allowed us to be hypervigilant—and to safeguard ourselves—up until the present time. Humanity has been exposed to real threats during the nighttime, and although it seems obvious that today it is not necessary to be afraid, for this more reptilian and limbic (emotional) brain,

Playing to overcome fear

Nighttime games unite darkness and fun. A good antidote. "They help overcome the fear of the dark in a fun and safe way, and at the same time, they promote curiosity and concentration. These entertainments often turn into group nighttime walks," says Susagna Escardíbul, an educator in the innovation and content area of Fundesplai (Catalan Foundation for Esplai). "In short, they are moments of connection and warmth, where stories can also be told or songs sung, in addition to other participatory dynamics to foster cohesion." These camps can also be accompanied by others such as sleeping away from a familiar environment or separating from the family. Camps serve precisely to break down the insecurities, limitations, and fears that some children bring from home.

To encourage them to enjoy the activity, the instructors—especially those with children in early childhood education and early primary school—prepare the night game by first introducing a center of interest. "They are given a context and a touch of excitement, suspense, action, and adventure... But these games are never intended to increase fear," says García. "In the afternoon, for example, they meet a fairy, who encourages them. At night, she faces a problem: she went to the river to wash her magic wands, but her sack got wasted in the woods and everything was scattered. We will help her search for and collect everything," she explains.

On the other hand, at the Pere Tarrés Foundation, an organization dedicated to education, especially in leisure and social action, under the motto Adventure by day, magic by night, organize themed summer camps for hundreds of children and young people from all over Catalonia each year, focusing on cooking, nature, sports such as rafting, animals, or video game design, to name a few. The director of the summer camp service, Albert Riu, explains that when night falls, it's time for "flashlight and discovery," activities that the children and young people "look forward to." "We usually hold evenings of small discoveries around the summer camps, as well as song and dance sessions or role-playing theater. If fear sets in at bedtime, apart from being there for them, we find ways to provide a focal point of light in the room or a lamp in the hallway."

And at night... the stars

Nighttime isn't just darkness. One of the activities star The highlight of summer is precisely stargazing, where you can enjoy observing the night sky. The Eix Estels summer camps, an organization that has been dedicated to summer camps for over 30 years, have a number of camps related to the world of astronomy. "We cover different topics: the discovery of planets and stars, we explain the training of astronauts, the space race, and the conquest of space beyond the solar system," explains Jaume Ramos, its commercial director. Various activities take place during the day, which at night include camping on the same grounds. "We want children and young people to connect with everything the night sky has to offer and awaken their curiosity about astronomy and starry nights," adds Ramos.

An initiative to observe the confines of the night in more depth is offered by the Albanyà Astronomical Observatory in Alt Empordà. The astronomical baptisms, organized by this observatory, which boasts one of the largest telescopes in Catalonia, attract around 150 spectators per session. Of these, 40% of the families attending are accompanied by children and young people. "The little ones aren't afraid, but absolutely curious. For them, it's a very new activity. They're the most surprised of all, and after the show, during question time, they're the ones who ask the best questions, such as where the Universe is expanding... Questions that are very difficult to answer," says Pere Guerra. Unique nighttime activities allow you to observe grandeurs like the Milky Way at night, with more than 200 billion stars. Wonders that the human eye can only see... at night!