F

ear shrinks the world. A new sound, a dark hallway, a looming task—suddenly, a child’s mind tightens. In that grip, curiosity fades and questions vanish. You don’t have to banish fear to help them grow. You just have to stay beside them. When kids learn that fear can be felt and faced, not fled from, they start to expand again. Paris’s cafés weren’t always cozy—ideas clashed, tensions rose—but people stayed. And stayed open. The next time your child pulls back, ask gently, “Want me to face it with you?”

One evening, my son froze outside the garage. The lights were off, the air still. “Something’s in there,” he whispered. I didn’t wave it off or force him forward. I stood next to him and said, “Let’s listen.” We did. A faint rustle. “Leaves?” he guessed. I nodded. We walked in together. He didn’t need a lecture about bravery—just space to return on his own terms. The next day, he opened the door by himself. Not because the fear was gone, but because he’d met it without being alone.

When fear surfaces, slow everything down. Sit with it. You don’t have to name it right away or fix it quickly. Just ask if they want you near. For some children, talking helps. For others, it’s silence, breath, or a flashlight. Let them guide how they reenter. The point isn’t to remove fear—it’s to prove it’s not in charge. That kind of calm, offered steadily, becomes a memory they carry into future storms.

TIPS

• Share guesses to spark joy.
• Ease doubts to fuel curiosity.
• Track whys to deepen their gaze.

ACTIVITIES

• Toy Guess: Share a playful why with a toy, ease their doubt—10–15 min
• Science Muse: Explore a bigger why with your teen, welcome their take—10–15 min
• Why Jot: Write a question in a journal, revisit it later—10–15 min