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Naomi, the Nighttime Hero: Kids and Parents Beating Night Time Fears

Book description

“Mom, I’m feeling scared. Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”
“Dad, can you stay with me until I fall asleep?”
“I heard a noise. Can you check for monsters under my bed?”

Sounds familiar?

These are all things Naomi used to say to her parents, but that was before she became a nighttime hero and learned how to fall asleep independently. This charming children’s book tells the story of Naomi’s journey with her parents as they learn how to beat nighttime fears.

Filled with humor and intrigue, this story shows that children can conquer bedtime anxieties and reduce dependence on their parents.

For parents, this book shows simple and highly effective Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies for dealing with night time fears, drawing from Dr. Jonathan Kushnir’s extensive experience in guiding children and parents.

Get the book and sleep well!

Recommendations

Who is this book for?

Your child asks to sleep in your bed because they feel scared
Your child wants you to stay in the room until they fall asleep
You are asked to check for monsters under the bed or investigate every noise
You want your child to learn to fall asleep independently

What’s inside

The story of Naomi's journey with her parents as they learn how to beat nighttime fears
A story told with humor, showing that children can overcome bedtime anxieties and depend less on their parents at night
Simple Cognitive Behavioral Therapy strategies for parents dealing with nighttime fears
An approach drawn from Dr. Jonathan Kushnir's experience in guiding children and parents

How to use this book

Read the story together at a calm time during the day, not when your child is already scared in bed. Ask which of Naomi's requests sound like their own. Use the strategies for parents to plan small steps toward falling asleep independently, and call your child a nighttime hero each time they manage one.

Book details

Authors: Dr. Jonathan Kushnir, Ram Kushnir
Illustrator: Nikola Aronová
Published: December 2023
Language: English

Frequently asked questions

What age is Naomi, the Nighttime Hero for?

A reading age is not stated for this book. It is written as a picture book for young children to read together with a parent.

Should I let my scared child sleep in my bed?

It brings quick relief, and many parents do it. As a regular habit, though, it can keep the fear going, because the child does not get the chance to learn that they can cope in their own bed. A CBT approach helps the child return to independent sleep gradually, in small steps.

Should I check for monsters under the bed when my child asks?

Checking calms a child for the moment, but it can also suggest there might be something to find, and the requests often grow. A CBT approach is to acknowledge the fear, show confidence that your child can cope, and gradually cut back on checking.

When a book is not enough

If nighttime fears last for weeks, your child is very distressed at bedtime, or the lack of sleep affects daytime mood, school, or family life, it is worth consulting a child psychologist or your pediatrician. Dr. Kushnir also works with families online: help with children’s nighttime fears.