Do you encourage your kids to LD?

[Longshwen]

Any parents that discuss lucid dreaming with your kids? I was wondering if there was any controversy on the subject. I, for one, will be teaching my children if it is possible to do so. I don't want them growing up to be jealous of all you naturals like thier dear 'ol dad.

[Tsen]

I don't have kids (I'm 17) ...well, at least I HOPE I don't have kids, but I DO teach my siblings, and my nieces and nephews, and one of my cousins, and most of my friends. 'Course, my siblings ignored me, and several of my friends as well, but three of my nieces are successful LD'ers now (One's 7 years old and the others are both 9), and my cousin occasionally LD's, as well as two of my friends. Unfortunately, only one of that entire group is active on the site, and he practically LIVES in senseless banter. His post count was 0 for the first three months since he joined because all his posts were in Senseless (which didn't count towards his post count.)

[Matchbook]

I think it's a good idea to teach kids to LD. For one thing, it will help enhance creativity and imagination, which are important life skills. It should also help to develop determination at a young age, and succesful LDing would lead to a boost in self-confidence. But I think would also be important to encourage a reality-based skill at the same time to help balance the child out. If he/she focusses a lot on something that is fantastical and imaginatory, it may cause that child to lose a bit of a sense of reality. I know similar things happened to me when I was a child, and I often recessed into a state of imagination which caused me to lose some touch with reality and society.

[AirRick101]

Ya, I tell my kids that lucid dreaming is good for them, but to use the skill wisely, especially for problem solving and self-exploration. They don't say much in return when I lecture it, but I can tell they concentrate well each time they go to bed. In fact, they like to stay in their bedrooms a lot, and enjoy sleeping on their pillows without a blanket, I guess they're more comfortable that way. I really have good conversations with them, unlike most others, they don't talk back when unneeded, and listen to me a lot like good little ones. Oh, did I mention they were stuffed animals?

[Seeker]

I speak to my family about it. My son is the only one that seems to have taken an interest in it and has even had a few LDs. My wife and daughter don't really seem interested.

[Clairity]

In our conversation, my son stated that he doesn't really remember his dreams so it was kinda hard to get him excited about LDing but he did "half-heartedly" listen (being the polite young man that he is).

[Genjyo]

It would be ideal having kids learn to LD, especially when they have nightmares. To recognize the nightmarish element and know it is only a dream would diminish the fear factor. Kids, are verly likely, to be natural LD'ers unaware of their ability.

[Izinyo]

I don't have kids of my own, but the way I see it (if I remember back to when I was a kid), the line between reality and fiction is quite smudged, even when awake. The fact that a kid can spend the better part of the afternoon playing with a stick and a rock, believing them to be living things, friends even, is proof enough that I'm pretty sure no real harm can come of them LD-ing. Hell, their imaginations allow them to sort of LD even when awake! I personally feel that LD-ing should be incouraged by the parents. I wish my parents had known about and practiced LD-ing, and taught it to me at a young age, so I reckon when I have kids, I'll definately try and get them hooked.

[Alex D]

Well when I adopt my daughter (God help whoever I end up with, I have it all planned out ), if she has any problems with nightmares, then I'll teach her, hell I'll probably teach her anyway.

[Tsen]

With people not willing to learn, it seems to be mostly centered around timing. Especially little kids, who have shorter attention spans. I taught my nieces after one of them had a really bad nightmare, and I made sure to put a dramatic lead on it... "Well...there is a way you could stop nightmares. But maybe it's too advanced for you..." Y'know, that sort of thing. Kids eat it up, and can't resist trying to prove you wrong, and I had them all LD'ing a week later. 'course, it also helped that kids are more...susceptible (not sure if that's quite the word I'm looking for) to suggestion. Basically, after giving them a short intro, I told them that they definitely would realize they were dreaming that night and become lucid, and it worked for one of them, and the other two were successful by the next week. My friends weren't as easy to help, since using that little drama factor with the "I'd bet it's too complicated for you" just wouldn't have worked on them.

[Howie]

Although I do not have any kids...yet. I hope to in the near future and that has crossed my mind a couple of times. It is nice to see some feed back on experianced parents. (NO!! your not going to Prom until you learn to lucid dream you spoiled brat!) Ok Maybe I will waite a couplle of years. :wink:

[kimpossible]

My dog and I go into each others dreams and play video games. He rocks at Ms. Pacman. 'Course, he's a Jack Russell Terrier. They have awesome reflexes, and they're born to chase little things around dark mazes and eat them. I consider it an unfair natural advantage. (ok - I just couldn't resist)

[Ex Nine]

I will definitely encourage my children to be active participants in their dreams. Who wouldn't? To help them fend off nightmares, cultivate a sense of confidence, and nourish their creative abilities...

[Barbizzle]

Well, I dont have kids, but I have a younger cousin. She a natural but sometimes she doesnt rmeebr her dreams, so I always keep her on her toes about it, and make ehr do RC's I will sooooo teach my kids how to LD. I remebr I used to have soo many as a kid, and It will be very easy for kids to learn this. Who knows, we could start a hwole new generation of LDrs who will teach it to thier loved ones and children, until we take over the world... muahha..

[Callista]

I don't see why not. It's not like it's something that's going to hurt them or anything. I wouldn't put pressure on them, though; that's the worst way to get any results when it comes to lucid dreaming. Besides, it's fun, and unlike partying or having sex, can't harm your kids