I note this was posted in 2013, and I’m wondering how things turned out. Did your child grow out of his fear by himself or did you need to seek help?

Sounds a bit like agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety in situations where the person perceives their environment to be unsafe with no easy way to escape. These situations can include open spaces, public transit, shopping centers, or simply being outside their home.
Has he had panic attacks ?
My youngest has some fears, not the same but there are some similarities.
She’s scared for loud noises, darkness and like your son for large wide open unfamiliar spaces. Saying that, she also freaked when going in a different car (not a wide open space, just unfamiliar).

What we do;
prepare on what’s happening
use of a planner and social stories and looking at pictures or video about it
distraction & redirection
give some form of control within the situation
relaxation / deep breathing / calming toy or sensory item
grounding exercises

4 is quite young to be starting prep, maybe they’re just not emotionally ready?

See if you can talk to him to find out what made him scared. Could it be a TV show , book or a a dream. Show him that all buildings are safely grounded etc…

I’ve never heard of this problem before but there must be a reason.
He may have seen something on TV or may have even had a nightmare.
If you can get the material & show him how strong it is he may not be so afraid of it breaking. You could also try speaking to a builder & getting them to talk to him? The school should have a counsellor they can offer you as well. You may also be able to find some books on construction you can read with him & purchase him some construction lego where he can build his own buildings.
Ask him why he is so scared, what is he afraid is going to happen?
Don’t push him as this could make his fear worse.
Find the problem & approach it in a way he is comfortable with.
Good luck.

I have not gone through this but perhaps showning him how buildings work and explaining it to him, show him all the strong metal beams that hold everything up, tell him to try break it, maybe when he realises how strong it is it might help him a little.

i hadn’t experience this. it is irrational but to the child it is terrifying. i hope that you can get the child help

maybe he has seen something on the tv about a building falling and it looked similar. hope you work out the problem. good luck.

No idea – perhaps s councillor might be worthwhile to find the source of the problem?

Hope you’ve found a way to calm her

No ideas, but it must be horrible for him – poor little guy

i hope things are going well?

How is he going now?

Maybe try taking him to see how buildings are made or try to find a documentary so he understands how things are put together and can see this it is just ‘missing the cover’.

How is he now – any advice helped?

Have the teachers given u any ideas?

An unusual fear but I kinda get it. I really don’t know how u can concer that one

I agree with what yummymum has said. I hope things have improved by now.

It might be the exposed beams. Maybe it feels unsafe or broken to him. Most building do not have exposed roofing, so maybe this is confusing and confronting. Maybe sit outside where you can see the roof and talk about it. Talk about the strong beams and safe insulation. Maybe get a book that goes into building construction and look at the pictures and talk about the element of a strong and safe building. Strong foundation, walls and roof. Maybe this gentle exposure can help him understand that it is safe. Take your time and don’t rush him. He will get there. Good luck!

Talk to him about it!