Why is it easier for kids?

**Awesomeness** · 12-07-2010 01:35 PM

I found I could lucid dream somewhat quickly... I guess it's because I'm a kid. When I get older, will my skill go away?

**Awakening** · 12-07-2010 02:38 PM

Because kids don't have a fixed mindset. With the time passing you will get your learning ability going down and down, unless you always train it.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 12-07-2010 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Awesomeness

I found I could lucid dream somewhat quickly... I guess it's because I'm a kid. When I get older, will my skill go away?

There are a couple of reasons, that I can think of.

1) Because, as you get older, your affinities for imagination and fantasy will have to contend with your orientation to the laws of the waking world (much like Awakening said). If this is left unchecked, you will become much more grounded in reality, making it harder to "control" things without that tinge of doubt, in the back of your mind, that says "this shouldn't be possible."

2) Because the REM cycles of children are longer than they are in adulthood. This means that children have longer, more vivid dreams, and are much more likely to awaken and fall back asleep, directly into an REM period. This makes both WILDs and DILDs more likely.

3) Because children don't have as much stress, and other "mental noise", which works to keep the mind unfocused, and not so sharp on recognizing the dream state for what it is.

Only ones I can think of, at the moment.

**Awesomeness** · 12-07-2010 10:08 PM

So does that mean I'll lose some or all of my ability to lucid dream when I grow up?

**Brunor2** · 12-07-2010 11:06 PM

No, you'll not lose it if you keep with the practice.
How old are you ?

**Awesomeness** · 12-07-2010 11:09 PM

I'm 15.

**moongrass** · 12-07-2010 11:19 PM

I think the younger you start the better you will be as you get older. I wish I would of started to purposely lucid dream at a younger age. I just thought it was something random that could not be controlled.

**Tiigon** · 12-12-2010 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by Oneironaut

1) Because, as you get older, your affinities for imagination and fantasy will have to contend with your orientation to the laws of the waking world (much like Awakening said). If this is left unchecked, you will become much more grounded in reality, making it harder to "control" things without that tinge of doubt, in the back of your mind, that says "this shouldn't be possible."

I am going backwards with this - my imagination is much better than it used to be and I often find myself thinking about some really random things, such as what would happen if a monster suddenly jumped through the window. (no joke, I sometimes do that in class... and I'm 16

)

**XeL** · 12-12-2010 12:46 AM

15 doesn't sound very young to me. Perhaps you're just talented?

I believe that one of the reasons to why small kids have lucid dreams is that they're very observant. My little sister is five, and she never fails to notice changes. The ability to distinguish what's "normal" from what's not usually disappears as we grow older and start worrying about other things.

**Oneironaut Zero** · 12-12-2010 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by Tiigon

I am going backwards with this - my imagination is much better than it used to be and I often find myself thinking about some really random things, such as what would happen if a monster suddenly jumped through the window. (no joke, I sometimes do that in class... and I'm 16

)

Exactly. The key words in the quote were "if left unchecked." Like me, you are apparently one of those people who have kept their imagination active, throughout the years. At any waking moment, I'm going through some fantastical scenario in my head, much removed from reality. (I'm 29.) I tend to think that we are in the minority, though, since most people seem to get increasingly detached from their imagination, as they get older.

And XeL, I agree with the idea that kids being more observant helps them to be more accomplished lucid dreamers.

**cmind** · 12-12-2010 03:24 AM

One way to instantly restore your imagination as you get older: psychedelic drugs. After a good trip, you'll have a VERY vivid imagination for a long time...

**moongrass** · 12-13-2010 05:51 AM

Originally Posted by cmind

One way to instantly restore your imagination as you get older: psychedelic drugs. After a good trip, you'll have a VERY vivid imagination for a long time...

Very good point, you can really learn a lot from psychedelics!

**Awesomeness** · 12-22-2010 07:47 PM

Yeah, I'm beginning to get better and better at lucid dreaming. Because of my science project (I've been writing a huge computer program to simulate bird flocking) which has taken weeks and is still going on, I haven't had time to type them all down. I'm usually having one or two lucid dreams every other day.

So, as long as people keep working on lucid dreaming, (and keeping their imagination) they won't lose their ability as they grow older?