All children are different. Some sail through life with ne'er a care in the world, while others are wary and hold back.

'My daughter heard a radio programme about cancer and now she's anxious about getting it...' Does this sound similar to your own experiences?

Learning new things to be afraid of
Fear can keep children safe but too much can stop them from trying anything new. It's common for young children to be afraid of real and imaginary things. The world is the big unknown and children feel they have no control over it. As they grows in confidence and understanding, they will gain a sense of perspective and control. Don't get cross and don't force a frightened child to face the fear head on.

It's a scary world out there!
Children can be frightened by the news. Don't reassure them 'nothing will happen', they knows that these things do happen. As they get older, the child may even know someone to whom it has happened.

Talk it through
Talk through the issue, putting it in perspective. Remember they will able to absorb only limited information, so keep it short but accurate and geared to the child's age and understanding. Explain, for example, it's very rare for children to be abducted but there are sensible precautions you can take to stop it happening. Explain that some children do get cancer but it's a very unusual thing .

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