Young Dreamer

[MercurialDream]

I have a 7 year old son who is having a reoccuring nightmare that involves something he saw on television about two months ago. At first he was waking every night, a couple times even, crying about things he saw that scared him. It has slowly..soooo slowly lessened to two nights a week or so now, and hopefully will be zero soon, but just incase it doesn't go away soon, or hell even to see if it can help in the future.. does anyone know how young is too young to control your dreams? Is it simply a matter of comprehending the ability or can it be taught to him? I know I can do it, just not sure how well I could teach him, or what direction to go to be able to do so. Anyone?

[tyrantt23]

does anyone know how young is too young to control your dreams?[/b] Well, I was around that age when I had my first lucid. It lasted about a minute, then I woke up from the excitement. I closed my eyes and tried to slip back into the dream, but only got a real hazy, non-vivid version of the dream that only lasted a few seconds. I thought it was weird, but by not knowing it was possible to lucid dream, I never practiced or tried anything, and it took me 13 years to have my second lucid. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, it doesn't hurt to tell him about lucid dreaming. If you just start him out by encouraging him to keep a dream journal, he will start having better dream recall, and get more interested in dreams... and that's the first step to having LDs. Also, he's very young, so if he keeps a dream journal and starts learning a few techniques here and there, he'll be a lucid master in a few years from now.

[Lucidbulbs]

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, it doesn't hurt to tell him about lucid dreaming. If you just start him out by encouraging him to keep a dream journal, he will start having better dream recall, and get more interested in dreams... and that's the first step to having LDs. Also, he's very young, so if he keeps a dream journal and starts learning a few techniques here and there, he'll be a lucid master in a few years from now. [/b] That's so true, he's obviously old enough to learn what lucid dreams are at that age, he is old enough to understand that it is possible to understand that you are dreaming while still in that dream and it'll make it easier on him if you tell him about it. Since there a lot of people who have their first LD when they're young but don't know what good can come out of it by trying to be lucid, they forget about that [or those] dream[s]. And nightmares are something that cause many people to realize that they're dreaming, so go for it. He has all the things he needs to become an LDer, the only thing he needs now is a push from you and some guidance too.

[Jess]

I think the younger the better, and you'll teach him fine, don't worry. I suppose it might be hard to tell whether he really understood what you meant and if he was able to do it, I don't know. I think it's probably best not to label things when you teach him, just tell him what it means, and how you do it. Maybe tell him what it means to be lucid so he can comprehend the ability, then follow-up to see if he's been able to do it, if you feel he hasn't from what he tells you then give him some pointers to help him along?

[Phydeaux_3]

My daughter is 3 and I'm already teaching her some "tricks" like for example I tell her that if she's having a bad dream to "change the channel" with the remote control (she's got a thing for remote controls) and go and play with Toopy And Binoo instead. Also, I tell her that if she encounters "bad guys" or monsters that she should share her snack with them, try to be friendly and they'll be friendly back. One night she awoke from a bad dream & I asked her what had happened, she told me that there was a monster and she shared her yogurt with it, "what happened?" I asked (her answer almost made me cry) she says "I shared my snack and the monster turned into a butterfly." Wow! She's going to have such a huge head-start in dreaming, wish I'd had a guide when I was little.

[lupo7]

Reoccurring nightmares are a perfect opportunity for someone to get lucid at that age. Actually I had my lucid in the age of 7 too, because of such a chasing nightmare? I could see it every night and I woke totally scared. After some months of nightmarish nights I decided to recognize the nightmare as a dream, it was the easier dreamsign ever. I succeeded to get lucid -I didn't new the term until 20 years later. I think you can take advandage from the situation, and teach your kid to recognize the particular dream. It will be much easier for him to do it later, maybe like if he is a natural. Good luck.

[eppy]

any age is fine. they just have to understand the concept of knowing your dreaming and how you can control it,and then you can give them pointers and cheer them on.ha, i started young too, but not that young. its good to do it when your young too because you still have good dream recall and if you lose your recall its hard to get it back.

[MercurialDream]

Reoccurring nightmares are a perfect opportunity for someone to get lucid at that age. Actually I had my lucid in the age of 7 too, because of such a chasing nightmare?[/b] Kinda, he was at a friends place and they put in 'Ernst Scared Stupid', a movie most of us would laugh at, but of course at 7 it wasn't so funny as it was scarey. The troll like monster only attacked children and when he touched them they turned into a frozen doll or something. And of course there was that typical scene where a child looks over and the troll is in her bed and attacks her. Yeah, I could kill the people that thought THAT movie was a good idea. Gesh!! I have told my children to "change their dream" on a number of times, so I am hoping to get them into practicing dream control. I too wish I had a guide at that age, perhaps I could be having regular LDs by now instead of the ONE that has sparked me so. ::Sighs::

[lupo7]

Kinda, he was at a friends place and they put in 'Ernst Scared Stupid', a movie most of us would laugh at, but of course at 7 it wasn't so funny as it was scarey. The troll like monster only attacked children and when he touched them they turned into a frozen doll or something. And of course there was that typical scene where a child looks over and the troll is in her bed and attacks her. Yeah, I could kill the people that thought THAT movie was a good idea. Gesh!! I have told my children to "change their dream" on a number of times, so I am hoping to get them into practicing dream control. I too wish I had a guide at that age, perhaps I could be having regular LDs by now instead of the ONE that has sparked me so. ::Sighs::[/b] What is that dream about, is this troll monster chasing your kid or just appear there -maybe from under the bed- and your kid stand frozen scared? In my case the monster was chasing me, so I had some time to think about and to remember that it's a dream and to become lucid. I m sure there is a trick. Maybe if you find the photo from this troll monster in the Net and print it with the words "JUST A DREAM" with big fonts would help. Or maybe not. Maybe it's risky to show him the troll again. Thats the problem with kids, you re never absolutely sure what is good for them. So be extra careful if you decide to do that. But usually the best way to deal with nightmare is to face them, or they will be back someday. Also you can suggest to the child to become friend with that troll -it's an actor and all that is fake and actually it's a good guy etc. I like Phydeaux_3's appoach too, seems safe.

[MercurialDream]

What is that dream about, is this troll monster chasing your kid or just appear there -maybe from under the bed- and your kid stand frozen scared? In my case the monster was chasing me, so I had some time to think about and to remember that it's a dream and to become lucid. I m sure there is a trick. Maybe if you find the photo from this troll monster in the Net and print it with the words "JUST A DREAM" with big fonts would help. Or maybe not. Maybe it's risky to show him the troll again. Thats the problem with kids, you re never absolutely sure what is good for them. So be extra careful if you decide to do that. But usually the best way to deal with nightmare is to face them, or they will be back someday. Also you can suggest to the child to become friend with that troll -it's an actor and all that is fake and actually it's a good guy etc. I like Phydeaux_3's appoach too, seems safe.[/b] He said that he was chasing him by the park. Which must have been significant in the movie or something. I haven't seen it, maybe I should watch it completely to see what it is about. Thanks so much for the advice everyone! I will put these ideas in consideration as I attempt to tackle my sons bad dreams. Its great to see good feedback on my post, thanks again! MD

[JFK-really-it's-me]

most young children have good recall and wild imagenations so as long as he can pay atention (don't care to spell it right) and have a good memory it is worth trying hugs and kisses JFK