Tickle Crabs
Ages 3–7 Disney+ 7 min
Bingo is scared of the 'tickle crabs' in an imaginative game — but with her family's help, the scary thing transforms into something playful. A model for turning imaginative fear into manageable fun.
Episodes to watch 2
Monster at Twilight / Daniel Visits Grandpere
Ages 2–6 PeacockPBS 28 min
Daniel is scared a monster is near and learns to check whether scary things are really dangerous. The episode teaches children to reality-test their imagination-based fears.
Books to read 2
There's a Nightmare in My Closet
Ages 3–6
A boy confronts the nightmare in his closet — only to find it's more scared than he is. A classic reframe that teaches children they can face scary things, and that scary things often need compassion, not avoidance.
What to Do When You're Scared and Worried
Ages 5–8
A practical, warm guide for children ages 5–12 dealing with fears and worries. Written by a child psychologist, it gives children concrete strategies — breathing, reality-testing, facing fears gradually — in accessible language.