Are your kids’ nightmares keeping you up at night?
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Nightmares are one of the most common issues during childhood and can be the cause of anxiety, frustration, and many sleepless nights for children and their parents.
It is estimated by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine that up to 50% of children ages 3 to 5-years-old have nightmares severe enough to wake their parents.
Nightmares can be triggered by traumatic experiences, stressful life situations, as well as current events. For instance, during severe storm and tornado season, parents should prepare for fear and bad dreams involving thunder, lighting, and twisters.
Children tend to be more aware of the world around them than parents give them credit for. Even small children pick up bits and pieces of news such as the measles and Ebola outbreaks, plane crashes or threats of terrorism from ISIS, which can trigger nightmares.
“There are effective ways of dealing with nightmares. For parents, the key is finding the right solutions,”
says Dr. Caroline Presno, a former mental health counselor and author of 1, 2, 3, 4: Nightmare No More.
“It’s not enough to tell a child, ‘Bad dreams aren’t real so there is no reason to be scared.’ Even though the dream isn’t real, the child’s emotions are real and need to be addressed,” according to the book, 1, 2, 3, 4: Nightmare No More.
Tips for coping with nightmares, according to Presno, include:
- Helping children feel comfortable and independent in their own rooms
- Talking with children about what’s going on in their world
- Teaching relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and imagining a safe place
- Having your child draw a picture of the nightmare with an empowering ending.
The newly released picture book, 1, 2, 3, 4: Nightmare No More (written by Caroline Presno, Ed.D., illustrated by Michaela Schuett) is designed to help kids cope with nightmares and reduce their occurrence. The first section of the book is an engaging story for children with coping strategies woven through out. The second section is for parents, educators, and counselors, and expands on those coping strategies.
Caroline Presno, Ed.D., is an author, freelance writer, and mom of a 5 year-old girl. She has experience in psychology and education, with a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She has worked as a psychotherapist counseling children and adults.
For an interview or a copy of the book contact Caroline Presno
Photo: Adriano Agulló/Flickr