Even preschoolers can develop fear of loud noises. Try letting your child look at and eventually touch things in your home before you turn them on. Children can sleep with lights on without damaging their health. Many children sleep with a night light well into the school-age years. Fear of the dark is usually one of the last childhood fears to be conquered.
Younger children fear monsters and snakes that lurk in the bedroom shadows.
Older children may fear burglars and thieves. A gradual reduction of light works for many families, while some children decide on their own to turn lights off. It is important not to rush your child. School-age children often have to deal with bullies, the fear of rejection or embarrassment, and sometimes the reality of being home alone after school. Often these children develop strategies that help them cope.