What type of fear does this advice address?
Social fears

Please describe your child's fear and how it is manifested:
My daughter was often scared to sleep over at a friend's house when she first started. It can be hard for kids to sleep in a strange place without their normal bedtime routines and comforts.

How did/are you help(ing) your child learn to overcome this fear?
You can't push your child. Most kids will let you know when they're ready, but do encourage them to try. Here are some things that we found helpful the first few times my daughter went to a sleepover:

Pack her favorite stuffed toy, blanket, and pillow.
As you leave, give her a kiss goodbye and then a hug and kiss goodnight. Explain what you're doing.
Let the parent at the house know that it's okay for your child to call to say goodnight if she needs to. You might want to set a limit for how late she can make that call!

Please add any additional comments or suggestions:
If a child calls and really needs to come home, go pick her up. Reassure her that next time she'll feel like staying. Don't make her feel like a failure. Before you know it, she'll be wanting to go to sleepovers all the time!!

This advice is most appropriate for children in...
Preschool and Younger
Elementary School