Excessive fears are common in young children but rarely result in life-long phobias. It is a normal part of child development to learn about the world, and that entails becoming scared of some of what a child discovers. Most often, these fears recede over time. When a child’s specific fear remains for months or years, and if they exhibit considerable anxiety and avoidance of that which they fear, then a diagnosis of a specific phobia is possible, in consultation with a professional.