Barney is terrified of kids and footballs?

[Montyforever]

Im guessing somthing bad could have happend to him in the past as when we got him he was very nervous but is fine now. Hes fine with my cousin who is 5 and plays with "his" football. But if he comes across kids on a walk/people playing football he panics
Our neighbour had her grandchildren in her garden yesterday and he refused to go out!
Any ideas to help him to get over his fears?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Just lots of proofing, walk him gradually closer and closer to schools, playing fields etc, ignore scared or nervous behaviour, praise neutrality, Get 'dummy' kids to approach you on walks (friends kids etc) to feed him a tit bit etc,