Top 10 Biggest Childhood Fears

The Top Ten
The dark

I'm not lying, but that is how schools used to discipline us in the 2000s. They would lock us in a dark room until we cried and screamed, Let me out! I am sorry!

I was very afraid of the dark. That's why I sleep with the lights on. If I have the lights on, then I'm able to get some sleep.

I used to hate the dark as a little kid. Now the effect has flipped: if there's one shining light in my room, I tend to stay away from it.

The monster in the closet/under the bed

I always thought there was a monster under the bed when I was a kid.

Now, as a grown-up, I still think there's a monster under the bed and in the closet. I know it's silly, but I always make sure anyway.

I used to have recurring dreams where monsters came out of the TV and tried to capture me. Sometimes I would even freeze or be unable to scream for help. Then I would wake up bawling.

I still remember the night my grandma straight up told me that monsters weren't real, yet I was still too much of a wimp to turn off the TV at night because my dumb self was convinced there were monsters living inside it.

Sharks Sharks are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the rays. However,... read more

Ok, time to explain. Sharks are feared by many people, but the truth is, there is no need! Sharks will only attack you if you harm them or if you get too close to their babies. Either way, at least keep your distance just in case. Stay safe, and just remember:

COWS actually kill MORE people than SHARKS do in a year!

Sharks are one of the reasons why I don't like oceans. Have you seen the goblin shark? No thank you.

And all because the parents showed them Jaws.

The Boogeyman

A monster that stalks children sleeping in their beds, waiting to eat them for snacks.

Clowns

When I was very young, I was never scared of clowns. In fact, I would always want to run up to one whenever I saw one. However, then I watched It. While it didn't scare me enough, it made me think twice before encountering a clown.

Later, I heard on the news that a psychotic killer was on the loose disguised as a clown. I became paranoid, fearing any clown I saw could be the killer and might harm me, my friends, or my family. To this day, I still think twice before encountering a clown.

I watched It when I was 5. I have never felt the same way about clowns again...

Vampires
Zombies

I've had enough nightmares about zombies.

Nightmares
Loud sounds

If a siren goes off, I will plug my ears with my fingers or hands. I am absolutely afraid of ambulances, not just loud noises.

But I do love fireworks. Loud noises just annoy me.

They can hurt your ears and even deafen you.

The deep end in the swimming pool

I always thought I heard screaming in there, to the point where my imagination pictured a dead girl ready to pull me under and drown me as she stared into my soul.

I can't swim, and I'm too bony to float, so of course, it makes sense for me to fear the deep end of the pool.

Because of everything your parents tell you about not going there.

The Newcomers

? Concerts

They're mind-blowingly loud as heck, and you'd come off with your ears ringing and unable to hear properly.

? Balloons

They can pop, and that can scare a bunch of kids (as well as adults).

The Contenders
Being alone
Big dogs

I remember being scared to go to my uncle's house because his pit bull would get excited and start jumping on you whenever you came in the door. I knew she wasn't trying to hurt me, and I was completely fine with her once she settled down. It was just intimidating for me being a 5-year-old kid.

One time I was eating pizza at the schoolyard, and this dog jumped up and bit it out of my hand, making a wound in my finger as he did it. By the way, this was in the school park where no dogs were allowed. Then the owner came over and got mad at me!

I still love dogs though.

Spiders

I am deathly afraid of these creepy creatures. I have arachnophobia very badly, and they are very ugly.

I have my father kill them for me, and then I feel better.

Just the thought of lying casually in your bed and suddenly having a spider crawl up to your neck is enough to prove you're scared of spiders.

I have a pet tarantula, so I'm not really scared of spiders because they won't really do anything unless you provoke them.

Spanking
Frankenstein's Monster Frankenstein's Monster often referred to as "Frankenstein" is a fictional character who first appeared in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein as a monster brought to life by his creator Victor Frankenstein, Frankenstein's Monster would later become a pop culture icon featured in various media with... read more
Dolls

But why? Oh, I know! Because they (my old Barbie dolls that I locked away!) almost tried to kill me!

They are the reason why I keep stuffed animals instead of dolls.

Bullies

Being bullied in school is not cool, especially in high school.

But if you have your family and friends to help you, it makes a difference. I was a victim of bullying in school, and now that I have graduated, I feel better.

Daddy's belt
The dentist

When I was younger, I used to be extremely afraid of the dentist. Even just thinking about going to that place would cause me to freeze up, my heart to pound, and tears to fill my eyes.

After completing most of my two-phase orthodontic treatment and having two oral surgeries (the exposure and bonding of my upper canines in October 2020, and the removal of my wisdom teeth and exposure and bonding of my lower left canine in February 2022), I no longer have this fear. I've slowly become desensitized over the past few years, and now I don't mind having regular dentist appointments every six months.

Thunderstorms

I call thunderstorms bing bang boomers and I really hate them. I can't sleep during them at all.

But if I have headphones with me, I don't hear them.

Once, when I was younger, a blackout occurred while I was in the bathroom during the middle of a storm, and I screamed.

I always feel like a tornado will start.

Ghosts
Scary logos

As an Asian, I grew up watching TVB programs with my family. When I was a toddler until about early elementary school age, the music from the TVBI logo (especially the rumbling sound at the end) would frighten me. I had to run and hide whenever the logo came on.

When I was younger, I was terrified of the Universal intro. Whenever my parents would play a Universal movie, I would hide behind the door just to avoid it.

The THX logo didn't scare me that much, but I can kind of see why other people didn't like it.

Snakes
Dad
Parents fighting

Every kid is afraid of their parents fighting. I really don't like it when mine fight. It scares me every time.

8Load More
PSearch List