5 Strategies for Facing Fear from “Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix” – Guest Post

Guest Post by: Mindy Baker

I asked Mindy to share some thoughts about helping our children handle their fears because of her new book. She shares some practical advice and tells us about her new chapter book as well. I’m so pleased to share MIndy’s post.

Hi Terrie! Thanks for inviting me to your blog.

As an author, of course I aim to write engaging and entertaining stories, but ultimately my goal is to also include deeper layers within the pages that will impact kids in a positive way. My hope is that this story will lead its readers to think deeply about their own life, struggles, and relationships.

Fear and anxiety are problems gripping the children of today’s generation. Our kids need us to share practical strategies with them that can help them to face their fears.

As a Christian, my deepest belief is that our courage comes from our faith in Christ. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Sharing the hope-filled message of the gospel is the first way to help kids battle fear. With Jesus as their Savior, they are never alone. The Holy Spirit dwells inside them and his power enables them to be brave.

Here are five other strategies that are modeled by the main character in my book Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix. I offer some tips below on how to utilize these strategies in your everyday parenting experience.

1. Let your child acknowledge how he is feeling, but don’t let his feelings stay in control. Listen patiently as your child expresses his fears. Acknowledge that it is normal to have big feelings. Try to help them see that while those big feelings are real, sometimes they are not grounded in what is actually true about a situation.
2. Focus on the facts and what is true in the situation. After listening to the emotion, help your child to fix their mind on the truth.
3. Help your child remember past successes and coach him to believe that there will be future victories. Remind your child of other times in the past when they battled fear successfully.
4. Remind your child that they are not alone. They can depend on others and God for help. Tell your child that you are there for them no matter what. List off other friends and individuals in their lives who can help them. Pray with him about his fears.
5. Encourage your child to take the next step, no matter how small. Try to define a small, manageable action step that your child can be successful in as they seek to conquer their fear of something larger. Example: Fear of dark…try a nightlight. Fear of dogs…stand a few feet away when the neighbor has the dog on a leash…working up to petting the dog.

After reading the book Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix, use these conversation starters with the child in your life.

1. When do you think Soledad felt afraid during the story?

• Do you think Soledad demonstrated courage? When and how?

• Did Soledad ever pretend she wasn’t afraid or was she usually honest about her feelings? Can you think of an example in in the book when she did this?

• Can you think of an example when she took a small step of courage even though the path forward seemed really scary?

• What past successes or good memories did Soledad think about in order to have the courage to keep going?

• At first, Soledad tried to live life on her own. Who was her animal friend that stayed by her side? How did he help her? By the end of the book, who else had helped her?

*Faith-based: Did you know that God wants to help us when we are afraid? What is one way to ask him for help? (Pray) Consider helping your child memorize a verse such as Isaiah 41:10 to help him in moments of fear.

   “Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Starting discussions like this can be intimidating. My advice is don’t overthink it and don’t feel like it needs to be an overly formal thing. One tip is to make sure to think through your own life’s experiences ahead of time so that you are prepared to share a few (child appropriate) personal examples from your life’s journey. Your testimony is powerful and can inspire your child in an amazing way.

Also, don’t forget to pray…for the heart of your child, for the wisdom to know when to listen and when to speak, and for God to infuse each conversation with the power of his Holy Spirit.

I’m so excited to tell you a little bit about my new middle grade novel for children in grades 3-6 entitled Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix published by Chicken Scratch Books. In the book, Soledad’s world has been cursed by the evil Phoenix, and she is fleeing to try and live life on her own. The story is of her journey and how she will ultimately defeat the curse of the evil Phoenix and restore her village.

A few of the intriguing elements in the story are:

• Friendship with a llama
• Living under the rule of the evil Phoenix and the three plagues that he invokes (boulder hail, forest of stone, and sores that won’t heal)
• Relationship betrayal and restitution
• A special flute and a powerful healing waterfall

I pray that Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix will help many of its readers find the courage to face their fears.

Link to buy book

Link to buy Explorer Course

About the author:

Mindy Baker writes character driven picture books with read-aloud potential, middle grade novels, and devotional material for all ages. She resides in Indiana with her husband where she is a high school Spanish teacher. She has always said her library card is her most valuable possession and she keeps her passport up-to-date, ready to travel at any moment. She is passionate about her faith, her family, and living life to the full. Mindy loves to connect with her readers. You can find her on social media sites as @mindybakerbooks and at her website www.mindybakerbooks.com. She also has a mini-magazine for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of children. You can sign up to receive it here.

Mindy will also on the podcast. Be sure to watch for it. I know you’ll be blessed.