4 Year Old Scared of Storms,rain and Wind

Try getting her some story books about rain and storms that you can read her. Their is one called KISS GOODNIGHT that is really cute.

The story is a simple one. Sam's mother is putting Sam to bed, but when she asks Sam if he is ready, he replies, "Oh, no. I'm waiting." Mrs. Bear quietly and affectionately tries several different activities to prepare Sam for bed. First, she reads him his favorite book; then, with the wind howling outside, she carefully tucks him in. As the rain begins to fall with a "Splat!" on the roof, she arranges all of Sam's stuffed toys around him. Finally, they both drink glasses of warm milk. After each of these activities, Mrs. Bear asks Sam if he is ready for bed, but he continues to reply, "Oh, no. I'm waiting." Mrs. Bear reviews everything they have done and realizes that she has forgotten to kiss Sam good night. After lots of kisses, despite the bad storm outside, Sam goes happily to sleep.

You could also give her showers instead of baths and sing songs like, SINGING IN THE RAIN and let her know that being in the shower is just like being in the rain.

Help her count how long it takes to hear a clap of thunder, after a flash of lighting, to calculate how far away a storm is. This could a teaching moment for her and you can do some math. For example....this time it took 5 seconds to hear thunder after the lighting next time it took 2, how much is 5 + 2. Get her thinking of something other then the rain/storm.

Good luck.

i like everyone's ideas about the including and comforting too. I'm sure some books about it would help. kids love beign read to. as long as you arn't nervous about a storm(since they feel that energy) she'sll be fine. I actually did try comforting my daughter, but the only thing that worked for her was for us to get loud and bang cabinets and pans. i told her the storm is just noise like we make noise, and it's not going to hurt her. NOw she loves to watch the "twister sisters" tornado show! LOL

we had this problem with two of my older girls. Their dad finally walked them out in the garage during a storm and made it 'fun'. He played a game with them and said watch! The lightning will happen and you can count to 4 (or whatever the number was) and there will be thunder! So it turned into a counting game. It was really not as easy as that though. They were petrified to go out there, but he helped the process. Kind of like facing the fear head on and not making it so bad. They still don't love thunderstorms, but it's not as traumatic and we always remind them of their 'game'.

My Daughter (now age 16) was just like you daughter. One time when she was six it was raining so hard and she was afraid of a tornado, she went through the house and packed everyone in the family some clothes and set the bag by the door incase we had to leave. My husband was trying to rationalize and told her we would be just fine. In her little mind she needed to be prepared, that is what comforted her. The next morning she unpacked the bag and went on her merry way. Find something that comforts your daughter. When my daughter clung to my I would include her in what ever I was doing, laundry, dinning, cleaning house, etc. Depending on how bad the storm is I would stop what I was doing and pray, read, sing with her and just talk about what ever she wanted, anything to get her mind off of the storm. Even today if the thunder is really loud my daughter will run to us. I know that sometimes storms may not happen at a convenient time, but try to stay claim yourself and don't get upset at her. She is coming to her mommy because that is where she feels safe.

I will pray for you and daughter in this matter. My heart goes out to her, reminds me of my baby girl.