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Afraid of the Dark Stories

Turning fear into calm at bedtime

Stories for kids afraid of the dark that turn the scary black of the bedroom into something friendly: shadows that become bunny theaters, monsters who just wanted a nightlight corner, a dark that turns out to be shy. Borrowed courage, delivered one page at a time.

All stories are free to read online - ideal right before lights out. For maximum effect, create a personalized version where your child is the one who tames the dark. This collection is part of our stories about fears.

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Illustrated cover of the story “The Dark Is Just Shy”, Fear of the dark, Felt illustration, for ages 3 to 7Children's · Fear of the dark

The Dark Is Just Shy

3–7 yearsRead free story →

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Frequently asked questions

Will a story about the dark make the fear worse?
No - these stories never present the dark as dangerous. They reframe it as friendly or silly, which is exactly how fears shrink.
What else helps alongside the stories?
A dim nightlight, a consistent routine and taking the fear seriously without amplifying it. The story gives you the shared language for all of it.
What ages are these for?
Fear of the dark peaks between 3 and 7, and the stories are written for exactly that range.

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