If a child wakes up with an nightmare and comes running to your room, be prepared to listen and find out why the child is afraid. Go back into the child's room and turn on the light and show him there's nothing there, and all is well and safe.
Your child may want to spend the rest of the night in your bed, even if it's not usually allowed. It's okay to occasionally break the rules if the child is badly frightened, though you may have to nip that behavior in the bud before it becomes a bad habit.
A flashlight or a protective stuffed animal can be very soothing to a child plagued by nightmares. For a child, it's important to feel he has some control over his nightmares. Children need to have a sense that they are powerful people so things aren't so scary for them.
If a child is having a lot of nightmares, you may need to help relieve some of the stress that comes up during the day. Children these days are under enormous stress. Often they're watching violent movies or TV programs. Sometimes they are subject to a bully at school or day care. Or they're being asked to toilet train or deal with a new sibling or give up their room. Since these stresses can lead to nightmares, it helps if you can talk to your child about what's happened during the day.
Your child's experiences at bedtime should be a calming one. You should read a story, or sing a calming song or cuddle in the routine. Children who are having nightmares may develop a fear of falling asleep and a bedtime routine that includes books and music can help.
Great list. Thanks. H5
It used to help my children to pray for them ... I would pray for angels to surround them and to protect them, their thoughts and their dreams while they slept ... they had few nightmares. H5!
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