Uncle Lightfoot Flip That Switch: Overcoming Fear of the Dark (Third Edition)

Does your child cry, whine, refuse to go to bed, or crawl into your bed at night because your child is afraid of the dark? Are bedtime fears exhausting you and your child, keeping you from getting a good night’s sleep? If so, let Uncle Lightfoot help turn nighttime fears into nighttime fun! Previous versions have been tested at four universities and found to be effective in helping children with fear of the dark through a story woven around 17 fun family games and activities.

Michael is afraid at night (e.g., darkness, monsters, noises, burglars, sleeping alone, nightmares) and wants to learn to be brave. His friend, Jerome, calls him a “scaredy-cat.” Uncle Lightfoot, a modern-day Creek Indian, is a retired teacher who knows games that can help overcome nighttime fears. Michael’s parents, his brother, Tim, a young blind girl, Elizabeth, and even the farm dog, Lady, are willing to help Michael play the games and learn to sleep in his own bed at night!

• 17 fun games/activities woven around a fictional story for ages 4 to 8
• Many new vivid, often humorous, colorful illustrations in the 3rd Edition
• 88-pages with short chapters (usually 3 to 5 pages each)
• 14-page Parent Guidebook in the Appendix
• 3rd Edition is a refinement of an earlier edition that received the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Seal of Merit Award

While gaining tools to deal with nighttime fears, Michael also learns to ride a horse and rescues the dog from a cereal box attack! Can overcoming fear of the dark and other nighttime fears be exciting and fun? Uncle Lightfoot Flip That Switch: Overcoming Fear of the Dark makes a convincing case that it can be.

The author, Mary Coffman, is a licensed counselor who has been involved in bibliotherapy research for years. She previously assisted with research studies on nighttime fears such as fear of the dark at the University of West Florida and Virginia Tech. She also contributed to a study in Europe on Uncle Lightfoot, Flip That Switch. She held a number of positions in the fields of mental health and family counseling and was an adjunct psychology instructor at several colleges in the South and Midwest. At one point in her career she directed a family learning center that provided parenting and literacy programs (e.g., Motheread; Even Start; Parents As Teachers). One of her favorite activities in both mental health and education was to teach parenting classes. She remains convinced that parents are potentially their child's best teachers! Having lived much of her life in Florida and South Carolina, she now lives in Minnesota with her husband, George.

The artist, Dianne Dusevitch, has given the Third Edition of Uncle Lightfoot a make-over, adding color throughout the book. She is an illustrator, author, and marketing consultant. She is the winner of national and international illustration and marketing awards and currently lives in Florida. She was the original artist for the research editions of the book. Her illustrations are child-focused and add interest, excitement, and humor to the story.