A school-age child fears hidden aliens in closets. Which statement would be appropriate to convey to the parent?

A school-age child fears hidden aliens in closets. Which statement would be appropriate to convey to the parent?

• A. Fear of imaginary creatures does not usually occur at this age.
• B. I may need to refer your child to a pediatric mental health specialist.
• C. Your child is expressing normal fears for a school-age child.
• D. Your child may be watching too much violence on television.

Answer: (A)

Fears change as children grow, and by school age they are typically more focused on real-life concerns than on imaginary monsters. When a school‑age child describes hidden aliens in closets, telling the parent that this kind fear is not usually seen at this age sets a clear, developmentally informed expectation. It acknowledges that while fears can occur, this particular worry is outside the typical pattern for school-age children, which helps the parent understand the situation without jumping to conclusions about serious mental health issues or blaming media exposure. The other statements either push for immediate specialist referral, claim this is a normal school-age fear, or attribute the fear to television without supporting evidence, which doesn’t align with the developmental context here.

Fears change as children grow, and by school age they are typically more focused on real-life concerns than on imaginary monsters. When a school‑age child describes hidden aliens in closets, telling the parent that this kind fear is not usually seen at this age sets a clear, developmentally informed expectation. It acknowledges that while fears can occur, this particular worry is outside the typical pattern for school-age children, which helps the parent understand the situation without jumping to conclusions about serious mental health issues or blaming media exposure. The other statements either push for immediate specialist referral, claim this is a normal school-age fear, or attribute the fear to television without supporting evidence, which doesn’t align with the developmental context here.