Have you ever spent a night reassuring your toddler or preschooler that no monsters lurk in the closet or under the bed? Or have you heard your child express concern over something they've seen in a movie?

If so, then you've dealt with a child who has fear or anxiety. It may seem like a ruse just to get you to come back in the room one last time at bedtime, but your child's fears are very real to her. Says Parenting Expert Dr. Caron B. Goode:

"Preschool children do not have the ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. In their minds if they experience it, it is real."

Here, she talks more about how young children process what they see and offers ways you can comfort your child and help her overcome these fears.