8 common reasons for kids nightmares explained

The experts revealed that eight of the most common nightmare themes for children include dreaming about:

1. Monsters

· Usually suggests that you are facing mental and emotional distress in your waking life

2. Drowning

· Usually suggests that you are feeling overwhelmed or might even represent control issues

3. Getting lost or losing something important

· Usually suggests that you are anxious about something

4. Being chased

· Usually suggests that you are anxious about something, or experiencing heightened or ongoing stress

5. Feeling trapped

· Usually suggests that you are caught in a difficult, restrictive, or even dangerous situation

6. Natural disasters

· Usually suggests that you are nervous about a big change related to feelings of security, or the plans, goals, and the hopes you had for the immediate future

7. Public humiliation/catastrophe (things going wrong for them publicly)

· Usually suggests that you have feelings about being exposed as ill-prepared, incompetent, or deserving of shame

8. Teeth falling out

· Usually suggests that you are feeling a loss of control, or are worried about losing something or someone important to you

Common causes for nightmares include: watching something frightening, like TV programme or a film; being worried, stressed, or anxious; some medication; mental health conditions, such as PTSD.

Julia Boullemier, founder of Little Wishlist, commented that “dreams (including nightmares) are often a way for children to process their emotions and thoughts.

This may also include events that have happened to them.

According to the experts, Halloween can trigger a child to have nightmares, particularly for those who have an active imagination or watch many movies during the Halloween period.