Search
Related Links

 

 

Informative Articles

Back to School-Advice
It's back to school time.... Do you have everything you need to start the year off right? Confidence is key to success! For those first time jitters help welcome your pre-school and kinder students with a walk to the door and a quick goodbye. Quick...

Childhood Friendships
Childhood friendships are as special as they are a necessary part of growing up. While some of our children will maintain these friendships into adulthood, many will not. Kids move away or they find other friends with more current interests and...

Children's Allowance
When we consider that the word allowance means, “allowing for,” it puts that “A” word into better perspective. Children will need access to their own stash of cash when they reach a certain age. Kids develop this need around age 8 or 9 and it grows...

Growing Pains
Growing up is never easy. Just ask Little Lady, almost three-and-a-half, how hard it is. She’ll tell you. “It’s really, really hard. Half way through the day, my parents are a complete wreck.” She’s right. Sometimes the tension in here...

The Five Best Gifts to Give Your Family
The following article is offered for free use in your ezine, print publication or on your web site, so long as the author resource box at the end is included. Notification of publication would be appreciated. Title: The Five Best Gifts to Give...

 
Don't Make These 6 Mistakes When Your Child is Having Nightmares

It’s Tuesday 2:00 a.m. and you are awakened by your 4-year old daughter’s blood-curdling scream. A mother’s worst fear of someone hurting her baby is racing through your mind. You quickly throw the blankets off and stumble down the hall to your child’s bedroom.

As you enter her room she is huddled in a ball on her bed, blanket clutched tightly to her chest, and tears are streaming down her face. Her body is rigid, and her eyes are glued to the closet door. You go to her bedside and it’s like hugging a board as your embrace her stiff body. Through her sobs she says, “Mommy, there’s a monster in the closet and he is making a lot of noise. He’s going to get me.”

Sooner or later your child will have nightmares too. Knowing how to lovingly comfort your child and by dealing with the nightmares together you will save yourself from numerous sleepless nights. You and your child will get your necessary beauty sleep and be energized in the morning to begin your day completed rested.

In my 34 years of being actively involved with children, I have found stressed-out parents frantically searching for resources to help them raise happy, confident, and well-adjusted kids. Parenting is not something you do alone. Here are some things to avoid and simple games to play with your child to help them change their nightmares into ‘sweet dreams.’

Bring your child to bed with you – This is very tempting to do in the middle of the night but making your bed the family bed is only a temporary fix and will make things worst in the long run.

Instead, have your child camp out on the floor next to your bed with their favorite pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal. Sleeping in your room will make your child feels safe knowing you are close, but also communicates boundaries. Teach your child these boundaries or limits and they will gradually want to return to their own room to sleep.

Tell them there is nothing to be afraid of – Reasoning with a scared child in the wee hours of the morning is futile. You’re half asleep and your child’s fears of the unknown are real. Strange noises, shadows, and the darkness of the night are the common causes of nightmares. Often times they are frozen stiff and can’t move to go find you and that scares them even more.

To explain strange noises, take your child’s hand and show them what is making the noise. Be sure to turn lights on as your go and also point out shadows that disappear when the lights are turned on. Another great way to explain shadows is to point out shadows during daylight and explain what is making the shadow. For example, his or her owns shadow, trees, bushes, a toy, or the family dog.

A great game to play with your child during the day is to first blindfold them, then create noises. Your child needs to guess what the sounds are and where they are coming from. This not only helps them to identify typical household noises but also develops their sense of hearing.

Purchase a night light for your child’s bedroom or leave a light on in another room such as the hallway or bathroom. Having more light will soften your child’s frozen state and allow them to move about and come to find you. It also comforts them to know that they can see and no one will have the chance to come sneaking in their room.

Tell them that monsters aren’t real and don’t exist - A child’s innocence and imagination are precious; both need to be handled with extra care so that you don’t destroy them in any way, shape, or form.

The best way to handle monsters is to ask your child questions. What does the monster look like? Is the monster big or small? What color is the monster? Is the monster friendly? What does the monster want?


How old do you think the monster is? Does the monster look like an animal or us? This shows your child that you believe their monster truly exists and encourages them to face their monster by painting a picture using their creative imagination. It draws you into their fantasy world and builds a strong, bonding relationship.

Once you have a clear picture of what the monster looks like, take your child’s hand, turn on the lights, and find a squirt bottle of water. Give it to your child and then together go to where the bad monster lives and have your child squirt the monster. If it’s a good monster, have your child take the monster a treat, toy, pillow, or blanket.

It’s okay, Daddy got rid of the monster – This prevents your child from learning how to properly deal with their fears and creates some mistrust. Your child senses your disbelief in their story and because they did not witness the actual action to eliminate the monster, their fear of the unknown is intensified.

Tell your child to go back to bed – This level of fear is probable the simplest one to overcome. The mere fact that they are at your bedside indicates that their body is not a stiff board and they were brave enough to walk to your room.

Begin by asking what woke them up. Listen closely to their answer and then tell them how proud you are of them for being brave enough to come to your room. For example, “Daddy, there’s a big monster under my bed.” “Son, I’m extremely proud that your were brave enough to get out of bed to come and tell me about the big monster under your bed. Let’s go meet and destroy this big monster together.”

As you are walking to his bedroom hand in hand, continue asking questions about the monster while turning on lights as you go. Find a flashlight that your child can use to look in other dark places and the squirt bottle of water to spray the monster under the bed.

Putting your child to bed in your room instead of theirs - This prolongs the issue and the sooner you gentle guide your child to deal with their nightmare, the sooner you will all get a good nights sleep.

Establish a bedtime ritual by following the 3-steps below. This consistency will foster a safety net for your child and children feel secure when they know what to expect.
1.Give your child a flashlight to check under the bed, behind the dresser, and in the closet for any monsters.
2.Turn the bedroom light off and turn the hallway or bathroom light on. This will show your child that the nightlight, hallway, or bathroom’s light bulb is not burned out.
3.Then play the listening game as the two of you cuddle on their bed and discuss the sounds you are both hearing.

Nightmares don’t have to be the culprit for stealing your child’s security, interrupting their imagination, or precious families sleep time. Playfully helping your child to deal with their fears of going to bed can be fun, exciting and challenging. You will gain a peace of mind to lovingly tuck your child into bed, kiss them goodnight, and wish them ‘Sweet Dreams’ and they will wake up the morning to tell you all about their sweet dreams using their creative imagination.

Vicki Durr publishes “Down Home News” a free newsletter that provides parenting tips and activities designed to bring families together through nurturing play. Subscribe at her Website at http://www.seasonedhearts.com and you are automatically entered in the Family Vacation Sweepstakes. Contact her at 303-725-7097 or mail to: requests@seasonedhearts.com

About the Author

I come from a family of 8 siblings, have been married for 26 years, raised two healthy girls, and have been actively involved in the raising of numerous children.

 

Pregnancy | Baby | Child | Mom | Advice Tips & Resources for ...
Parenting magazine has everything you need to raise a happy, healthy family. Get expert advice on child development, the best in baby names, our pregnancy ...
www.parenting.com
 
Pregnancy & Parenting: For Today's Mom - iVillage
From trying to conceive through your child's teen years, iVillage Pregnancy & Parenting offers up-to-date and informative articles, features, expert advice ...
parenting.ivillage.com
 
Parenting.org – Help and guidance for parents!
Answers questions about parenting and has resources for better parenting.
www.parenting.org
 
Parents
Expert advice about pregnancy, your kids, your life, and family time from the editors of Parents magazine.
www.parents.com
 
BBC - Parenting
Practical solutions to help with the challenges of everyday parenting - including expert advice as well as tips from other mums and dads.
www.bbc.co.uk
 
Parenting, Pregnancy,Conception, Babynames - Parenthood.com
Information regarding parenthood and parenting. Find the meanings of Baby names and useful articles on parenting.
www.parenthood.com
 
Parenting advice, child development and family reference at ...
FamilyEducation.com provides parents with educational printables, games, activities, parenting ideas, tips, family advice, and information on learning ...
www.familyeducation.com
 
MedlinePlus: Parenting
From the National Institutes of Health; Adventures in Parenting (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) ...
www.nlm.nih.gov
 
The National Parenting Center
Support site for parenting. Dedicated to providing parents with comprehensive and responsible guidance from the world's most renowned child-rearing ...
www.tnpc.com
 
About - Parenting & Family
Parenting advice from moms and dads who know what's up. Whether your babies are still actual infants, or about to enter college, our Guides will give you ...
about.com
 
Positive Parenting - Main Menu
Debbie Critzer Positive Parenting is dedicated to providing resources and info rmation ... Welcome to Positive Parenting online! For our long-time readers, ...
www.positiveparenting.com
 
Parenting Tips and Information on Baby Care and Pregnancy.
This parenting and baby care resource center offers essential pregnancy, baby care and development information, tips, and articles.
www.parenttime.com
 
Parenting, Children's Health and Education, Family Crafts and ...
Parenting, Children, and Families - ParentCenter is the most trusted online resource for parents of young kids. ParentCenter offers free weekly newsletters, ...
parentcenter.babycenter.com
 
Parenting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The term "child training" implies a specific type of parenting that focuses on ... Parenting measures can also be observational, such as the Parent-Child ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Today's Parent
At Todaysparent.com you'll find a parenting community to call your own, with a library of information on all the ages and stages of your growing family, ...
www.todaysparent.com
 
Indian Parenting - The Definitive Guide
Comprehensive website for Indian parents with topics ranging from pregnancy to raising children, including articles on infertility, health and medicine, ...
www.indiaparenting.com
 
Exceptional Parent Magazine - Eparent.com - parenting those with ...
Magazine for parents of children or young adults with disabilities. Includes reports, forum, products links, books.
www.eparent.com
 
Parenting: information, advice and support from toddler to teenage
Parenting advice, information and support to help you with your family, from toddler to teens.
www.ivillage.co.uk
 
Parenting-QA.com - Parenting Questions and Answers For Parents in ...
All parents have questions about their children’s behavior, growth, and development. The challenges of parenting seem never-ending and constantly evolving.
www.parenting-qa.com
 
Parenting Teens - Troubled Teen Help Information.
Information for parents of teens, including troubled teens, parenting tips, teen education, and more.
www.parentingteens.com
 
 

 

Content Menu
  • 100 ways to connect with your teen

  • 10 outcomes you will love before potty training

  • 10 simple ways to say i love you

  • 10 things you can do to help a shy child

  • 10 ways to make toilet training fun exciting

  • 15 ways to create some extra holiday money

  • 3 major divorce parenting mistakes and learn how to avoid them

  • 5 steps to stress guard your family

  • 5 tips for successful grandparenting

  • 8 gifts of parenting

  • 8 steps to financially intelligent parenting

  • action points for effective grandparents

  • add adhd children being your childs best friend

  • andy griffith show family lessons

  • and this unto you

  • an examined life

  • an ntertaining evening

  • are we there yet

  • are your children growing up too fast

  • are your kids driving you crazy how character building charts keep you sane

  • are you addicted to your children

  • are you letting your children manipulate you

  • are you making time for your marriage

  • are you meeting all your childs basic needs

  • are you placing your children in danger

  • are you present with your children

  • aromatherapy for the parents of teenagers

  • authoritarian parenting permissive parenting or loving parenting

  • author interview mommy come home

  • a daddy baby shower new twist on the old baby shower

  • a harvest halloween

  • a history of names

  • a little girl with a big question

  • a minute can turn into hours for the child of a work at home mom

  • a season for giving

  • a servants heart

  • baby lullaby

  • baby name trends from classic to hip

  • baby safety checklist protecting your baby

  • baby shower gift ideas

  • backpacks and bullies is your child prepared

  • back to school advice

  • back to school time to recharge

  • bath time fun

  • bedtime without battles

  • behavioral strategy avoid the grey areas and deal only with black white

  • better aging

  • beyond the words a childs voice

  • be a good role model

  • birth of a baby birth of a parent

  • bless the children

  • born with instructions

  • boy do we get the garbage

  • breastfeeding 101 nursing basics for new moms

  • breastfeeding handling criticism

  • building your childs honest and fairness

  • build character now practical tools for busy parents

  • build your childs strong character through responsibility

  • bullies

  • calling forth a soulmate

  • caretaking parents entitled kids

  • childhood friendships

  • childrens allowance

  • childrens discipline how to resolve divorce parenting differences

  • childrens sexuality

  • children and divorce

  • children are people not machines

  • children patriots

  • children s discipline how to resolve divorce parenting differences

  • children who talk to angels

  • clean your house in half the time

  • committed parenting

  • convicting children

  • creative soap crafts

  • cut the costs of your new baby devour those yard sales

  • cyber parenting 101

  • dads are heroes

  • developing citizenship and patriotism in your child

  • developing your babys language

  • developing your childs compassion

  • developing your childs self discipline

  • developing your childs self respect

  • develop your childs critical thinking skills

  • develop your childs self confidence

  • diaper bags for dads papas got a brand new bag

  • difference

  • divorced parent do you alienate your child from the other parent

  • does your child need a bedtime routine yes

  • dont make these 6 mistakes when your child is having nightmares

  • do you want your children to be like you

  • eggs travagant eggs

  • elephants and teenagers

  • ericksons theory of human development

  • essential tips for the kitchen

  • every mom worries

  • family as as entity

  • family time

  • farm to market days

  • febrile seizures

  • first time parenting woes

  • five solid reasons why your child can be an achiever

  • five tips for successful grandparenting

  • five ways to turbo boost your parenting skills

  • fraternal twin parenting concerns

  • free african games

  • free baby shower games

  • free empowered kids game room

  • free kwanzaa games

  • frequently asked questions about reading to your child

  • fresh fun music for the whole family

  • friends are a gift you give yourself

  • friends fish the future

  • fun easy ways to help your family set goals for the new year

  • gaining a childs trust

  • getting great pictures of the kids this halloween

  • getting what you want in parenting

  • getting your husband involved in caring for your baby

  • gifted children

  • give your child the gift of self esteem

  • giving the gift of mama

  • glowing goblins

  • god dont like rich people

  • grace full parenting committing to nurturing the souls of our children

  • grandparenting ceremony

  • grieving children

  • growing pains

  • guerilla parenting techniques what are they

  • guilt free parenting

  • head lice

  • helping children with learning problem

  • helping your children develop their self discipline

  • helping your child develop

  • help my preteen teenager is driving me nuts

  • help your baby develop character

  • his toy her toy

  • holiday expectations

  • homework help for the attention deficit child

  • home and school education your kids can benefit from both

  • how can i teach my toddler to share

  • how develop your childs good judgement

  • how do you find the best car seat to protect your child

  • how is peaceful parentinge different

  • how the challenge of single parenting affects your decision to divorce

  • how to add romance to your relationship

  • how to choose a diaper bag

  • how to choose a diaper pail for disposable diapers

  • how to create an emotional bond with your child

  • how to help your child with first day anxiety

  • how to live with your teenagers untidy room

  • how to look for baby books

  • how to make coupons cash not clutter

  • how to make your own baby food and save a fortune

  • how to organize christmas toy shopping

  • how to potty train in two days

  • how to raise creative kids

  • how to reorganize your divorce life for happiness

  • how to share parenting responsibilities

  • how to share parenting responsibilities with your husband or partner

  • how to stop divorce parental conflict from bursting

  • how to take charge of the tv

  • how to while away a winter sunday afternoon with the kids teach a little eq at the same time

  • how well do you know your child

  • hunter and gatherer

  • if i hurt you then im sorry

  • impact of excercise and medical care on early learning

  • imperfect parenting

  • index

  • infant circumcision

  • insanity a symptom of a new parent

  • intersting baby facts strange but true

  • interview with a coach who helps men become better fathers

  • in search of elmo

  • is it okay to spoil your kids

  • is mothering wearing you out

  • is my child ready for a family pet

  • is this the one

  • is your child having trouble in school

  • its ok for your child to be bored in fact its recommended

  • jackass stunts high school hazing and herd mentality how can parents of teenagers protect kids from doing stupid things

  • jesus birthday sacred children series 2 of 3

  • john wayne vs petticoat approach to parenting

  • john wayne vs the petticoat approach to parenting

  • keeping abreast

  • keeping the stress out of single parenting

  • kids channeling mania towards productivity

  • learning activities for your baby

  • learning disabilities

  • lets go shopping at yard sales

  • living in love remembering why you married

  • living with and loving our teens

  • love at home

  • love food and kids

  • make role modeling a hobby

  • making mom feel special

  • making time for your kids

  • marriages may end but families are forever

  • maturing as a parent

  • meal deal how you and your toddler can enjoy eating out

  • mindfulness and marriage moving along

  • missing child

  • mommy baby more parenting tidbits

  • mommy baby parenting tidbits

  • mommy baby styles of parenting

  • moms 5 stteps to organize kids toys

  • moms 7 tips to organize your school kids

  • moms get more energy now

  • mom vs dad navigating parenting differences with all good intentions

  • moral armors irrational parenting part i

  • moral armors irrational parenting part ii

  • moral armors irrational parenting part iii

  • moral armors irrational parenting part iv

  • moral armors irrational parenting part v

  • more than i can bear

  • more than mom and dad

  • motivation the key to your childs educational success

  • my husband prioritizes making money above family time

  • my sons teacher was a bully

  • natural disasters help your child cope with the anxiety

  • need a great family or on your own winter activity

  • never pay full price for a book

  • no invitation needed sacred children series 3 of 3

  • number 1 key to good parenting

  • obesity isnt the only problem with todays youth entertainment

  • oh baby choosing the right baby name

  • oops did i forget the free fun

  • over indulgence and over attentiveness two dangers parents must avoid

  • parental hostility what will this bring to your childrens life

  • parenting

  • parenting activity use these 3 time out twists

  • parenting adolescents young adults

  • parenting advice when your kids fight

  • parenting after divorce

  • parenting balancing control and freedom

  • parenting confidence who needs it

  • parenting dilemmas finding support online

  • parenting failure it may not be all it seems

  • parenting give your child the tools to build strong character and values

  • parenting how to help your firstborn become friends with the new baby

  • parenting how to set limits for young children

  • parenting is tough make it easy

  • parenting just right the number one secret

  • parenting manual

  • parenting predicaments

  • parenting resolutions for character builders the best three ever

  • parenting roots and wings

  • parenting rules for permissive parents use these with caution

  • parenting secrets revealed

  • parenting skills five ways to turbo boost your confidence

  • parenting starts before pregnancy

  • parenting strategies to get your baby to sleep

  • parenting strategy one of the worst ever

  • parenting styles overcoming your differences

  • parenting style one of the worst ever

  • parenting success

  • parenting teenagers

  • parenting teens getting your point across

  • parenting teens the future

  • parenting ten things you can do to develop your babys language skills

  • parenting the irrational vocation

  • parenting troubled teens

  • parenting univeristy potty training 101

  • parenting yourself when you have small children

  • parents dealing with worry and fear

  • parents teach thought stopping fix crooked thinking caps

  • parents what kind of role model are you

  • passions search for destiny

  • pay attention its your most important job

  • pen pal romance

  • pet loss can be just as devastating

  • postpartum depression

  • potty training to train or not to train

  • practicing bringing generations together

  • preventing obesity in young children

  • project glowing goblins

  • protecting your childs innocence

  • putting your child to bed

  • rainy day fun crafts for kids

  • rainy day fun for kids

  • raise awesome kids this 4 point plan gets results

  • raising creative grandchildren

  • read together with your baby

  • real friends

  • real monsters under your bed

  • reincarnation sacred children series 1 of 3

  • remember the generation gap

  • reshape the family diet avoid dinnertime trouble cyndi thomas nd

  • resource for parents and teachers dealing with bullying

  • responsible fatherhood a unique and irreplaceable role

  • rotator

  • running away

  • safety measures to be taken when buying childrens clothing

  • saving memories of your children

  • saying yes so they wont know its no guiding behavior for peaceful parenting

  • saying yes so they wont know its no guiding behavior peaceful parenting

  • saying yes so they won t know it s no guiding behavior for peaceful parenting

  • scorpios child

  • secrets to working and pumping

  • secrets your husband significant other dont want you to know

  • security items

  • send your child to college free

  • share your thoughts about parenting

  • sharing parenting responsibilities

  • should you forgive infidelity

  • show your baby that you read

  • sibling rivalry the magic secret that stops it instantly

  • signs of teething baby

  • sign up for your child

  • single parenting how the challenge of single parenting affects your decision to divorce

  • sissys show of support

  • sit right here is a new game

  • slash your grocery prices with coupons

  • social and emotional preparation for pre school

  • son can i use the car tonight

  • spanking children

  • spare the child ditch the rod

  • spare your kids to 7 most distressful divorce parenting situations

  • speaking on behalf of our children stop blaming the victims

  • speaking with our children about the death of pope john paul ii

  • speech impediments

  • spend more time with your family this holiday season host a caroling party

  • start growing healthy children before getting pregnant

  • step parenting power tool using family rituals and traditions to create identit

  • stop look listen steps to better parenting communication

  • stop lying now

  • stop shoulding on yourself parenting without resentment

  • study skills how can you help your kids

  • teaching children good manners

  • teaching your child courage

  • teaching your child to be respectful

  • teach me im yours if you want your child to be smart you be the first teacher

  • teach your baby to read english

  • teach your childs honesty and fairness

  • teen advice on line

  • teething symptoms and how to treat them

  • ten tips for parenting teens

  • ten tips to help you save your sanity during the holidays

  • ten ways to save your sanity during the holidays

  • the 5 bs of effective parenting

  • the absentee parent parenting from a distance

  • the benefits of baby massage

  • the b word

  • the challenges of single parenting

  • the courage to be a loving parent

  • the essence of infidelity

  • the family bed a story in generations

  • the five best gifts to give your family

  • the gratitude wreath

  • the high eq way to choose the right man for you

  • the importance of fathers

  • the importance of hobbies

  • the importance of mothers

  • the john wayne vs apron string approach to parenting

  • the last day of who cares

  • the official parenting cheesecake recipe

  • the parent teen relationship

  • the seven keys to child obedience

  • the shoemaker and the brat

  • the sound of his laughter

  • the spirit of fathers day

  • the theory of parentivity and other equations

  • the top 5 reasons why unwed parents must establish paternity

  • the truth about early pregnancy tests

  • the woes of coparenting

  • think green

  • think like your kids and understand them more

  • time management and how it affects your kids

  • time management for stay at home parents

  • tips and tricks for introducing solids to your baby

  • toddler skills for personal responsibility

  • tools for parenting anger management for families part 1

  • tools for parenting anger management for families part 2

  • tools for parenting my child the lawyer

  • too many divorces

  • top 10 items for successful breastfeeding

  • top ten common sense rules for fathers

  • to know you is to love you

  • trick or treating safety

  • triumphing over tantrums

  • two year olds the original freedom fighters

  • typical language accomplishments

  • up to your neck in parenting dogma doo step into something more personally correct 7 warning signs that big mother is watching

  • using music to calm your baby

  • valentines day snowflake contest

  • valentine moments with your children

  • validating vs indulging childrens feelings

  • visiting the library

  • want to be a better parent

  • watch your child progress

  • what 10 things divorced parent should do to promote positive child adjustment

  • what 3 greatest gift you can give to your children by co parenting

  • what divorce parenting practices is best appropriate for an infant

  • what divorce parenting practices is best appropriate for preschoolers

  • what divorce parenting practices is best appropriate for school age children

  • what divorce parenting practices is best appropriate for toddlers

  • what is good parenting

  • what julia roberts has to say about motherhood

  • what not to give for mothers day

  • what parents should do for children to do their best after divorce

  • what the matter is

  • what to look for when choosing baby furniture

  • what we teach our children

  • what you can learn about life from your child

  • what you can learn about life from your children

  • what you should know about scholarships

  • when children are asking for love

  • when parents disagree

  • when time out dont work

  • when your baby arrives

  • where do your priorities fit

  • white noise for baby stops colic crying fast

  • whole brained grandparenting the baby gift

  • who are your kids talking to online

  • who will be their guardian

  • why kids toys are for kids

  • why other children are rejecting your child

  • will the angels abandon us

  • words of wisdom for single parents

  • writers block

  • youre a mom shes a mom being an adult with your parents

  • your babys colic

  • your childs most basic needs

  • your job as a role model

  • your kids career whose choice

  • you make me sick and other things parents say in anger

  • you want to be a stay at home parent

  • you want whaaat