We are image making creatures. Look around you and then describe the scene to someone. Pictures will be prevalent in that communication, just as they are prevalent in the minds of preschoolers. When parenting young children, or grandparenting young ones, it is quite the thrill to help them begin to remember their dreams.
I did this with my children when they were toddlers and now am doing it with my grandson, as well as with many other young clients and students over the years. Here are some basic tips and you can be creative as you custom-tailor for your little ones you know so well.
Dream Remembering Tips:
- Talk about your dream pictures that you get in your mind when you are asleep. Keep it simple, remember who you are sharing with.
- Point to your forehead and say something akin to: “I get pictures in my mind when I sleep and dream. Last night I saw a big garden of flowers and they were singing. (describe something child can relate to.)
- Next, touch child’s forehead and say, “When you sleep do you get pictures in your mind? That’s called dreaming.”
- Wait to see if child understands and responds. If not, just keep sharing about your dream pictures when you sleep and asking child each day about her/his dream pictures when asleep.
- Be encouraging for any memory of dreaming. Get excited. Make a big deal out of it. You are helping the child to tap into a deeper level of mind that can be very helpful later in life as well as very fun now.
The very first time I did this with my grandson when he was 25 months old, he was able to share the pictures he got were of brown children and a doctor helping them. WOW! It is fascinating to learn what is going on inside their dreamtime. My daughter, before the age of 2 yrs. first told me her dream picture was of water, lots of water.
Share at breakfast, sitting in the yard, walking in the woods, or anywhere when it pops into your mind. Get to know another side of the child you care about. Paying attention to children and being interested is great for connecting with them, reducing stress levels and nurturing the Superkid Power waiting to be tapped. Part of a child wellness plan is to have fun and explore together!