Dreamcatchers
Let's face it, nightmares can be as disturbing for parents as they are for the kids who have them (especially when that means Mom or Dad misses out on precious zzz's). Curious about what's keeping your little one up at night? We consulted dream experts Lauri Quinn Loewenberg and Michael Vigo to find out the most common nightmare themes for kids — and what they mean — so everyone in your family can sleep easier.
Threatening Animals
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Frightening animals — typically lions, wolves, sharks, crocodiles and snakes — frequently make cameos in kids' nightmares, according to Vigo, creator of dream website DreamMoods.com.
"It is not a coincidence that many of these animals are also found in children's stories," he explains. "Children use such familiar animals as a symbol of a bad guy or of something bad that will happen."
Abandonment
Don't be surprised if a dream about being abandoned keeps your little one up at night around the first day of school, as this nightmare can reflect first-day jitters. Or, it could stem from apprehension about spending a weekend away from Mom and Dad.
"Children go through periods of separation anxiety, and their dream will sometimes reflect their fears of being abandoned or being left alone," Vigo explains.
Monsters
Similar to animal-themed nightmares, monsters can symbolize an intimidating person or negative situation. "In general, monsters in a child's dream will be the embodiment of what they fear most or what's upsetting them at the time in real life," Loewenberg says.
These dreams can be recurring or may stem from the day's events. "Perhaps the child got yelled at by their parent or teacher that day," adds Vigo. "The parent or teacher may then be turned into a monster in the child's dream."
Scary Bugs
When creepy crawlies scurry into your child's dreams, chances are she's stressing out about something unfamiliar. Insects tend to represent a fear of the unknown, Vigo says. "This nightmare theme usually means that the child is feeling insecure about a situation or that there has been a change in their routine," he adds.
Being Eaten
A few scenarios can inspire a dream about being gobbled up. "Children's stories of the big bad wolf may be responsible for fueling fears of being eaten," Vigo says. Stories — even seemingly harmless fairy tales — can be surprisingly influential. But in children who are a little bit older, this bad dream can be connected to a picky eating problem, Loewenberg says.
"There is often so much focus on getting the child to eat 'correctly' that it can overwhelm the child." To boot, Vigo believes there could be a more metaphorical aspect of this nightmare theme. "Children know they are small and fear they could get eaten in the big world they live in," he explains.
Getting Lost
The roots of this dream are pretty obvious, Loewenberg says. "Young children have to hold Mommy or Daddy's hand in the parking lot or in the busy shopping mall so that they don't wander off," she says. "As much as we fear losing our child in such places, our children fear the very same thing. You may find your child gets the 'getting lost' dream on nights after a trip to the store or the park," she explains.
But this nightmare can also occur, she says, when the child's normal surroundings shift, and they haven't quite adapted to the new routine. It could be that your child has started a new school, moved to a new neighborhood or begun splitting time between parents due to a divorce.
Being Trapped or Kidnapped
"This nightmare is likely to occur when the child feels voiceless or helpless in a situation," Vigo says. "Perhaps there is tension in the home or there was an argument between the parents." This is another nightmare that seems to surface when a child's routine changes. "Maybe Mommy has gone back to work. Maybe the child is starting preschool. Maybe there's a new baby and he's not getting all the attention anymore," she says. "A kidnapper symbolizes that situation that has turned his world upside down."
Toys That Come to Life
Think of this as "Toy Story" gone way, way wrong. "When a favorite toy turns into a demonic being or becomes larger than life, it is an indication that the child is trying to cope or understand a similar waking situation where someone they know suddenly acts out of character," Vigo explains. "The child is afraid and confused."
Being Chased
Adults are probably as familiar with this common recurring dream as kids are, according to Vigo. Similar to nightmares of being trapped, chase dreams may signify a negative or stressful situation they are trying to run away from. For example, a parental feud may trigger such a dream, according to Vigo.
MORE: What's Your Sign?
Not Being Able to Move
What's more frightening for a wriggly tot than being totally paralyzed in his dreams? It's not uncommon for little ones to dream that they can't move or perform certain activities, no matter how hard they try. This likely stems from your child's sense of independence, Vigo says. As kids get older, they desire to break free from their parents. If they don't feel they're doing so in waking life, they might feel immobilized in their dreams as well.
