Ten Guidelines For Dreamguiding
• Give your child your full attention as she or he relates a dream. If you cannot offer this, ask your child if you can receive the dream another time soon.
• Record your child’s dream as he or she reports it. Recording a dream as a child tells it communicates that you value both the dream and the telling.
• When your child shares a dream with you, thank your child for telling you her or his dream.
• Appreciate and acknowledge what is resourceful in your child’s dream behavior.
• Be mindful of your reactivity as you hear your child’s dreams so that your child will not be influenced by worry or judgments from you.
• Do not press your child for dreams by constant questioning.
• Set time aside to be present to your child at bedtime. Set everything else aside, including electronic and digital devices.
• Whether your child abruptly awakens screaming inconsolably, or looks for you in the morning still hurting from a difficult dream, remember that you are his or her first ally.
• Take responsibility for your child’s portrayal of your behavior in her or his dreams. If you have hurt your child’s feelings in a dream, mend your bond with your child.
• If you are puzzled by a dream of your child’s, “carry it within yourself,” because insights might come to you throughout your day.
Dreamguider: Open the Door to Your Child’s Dreams, p.164-165.
2008 © by Denyse Beaudet, Ph.D. All rights reserved.
Links
International Association for the Study of Dreams,
Dream Network Journal: A Journal Exploring Dreams & Mythology since 1982.
The Dream Tree: A Resource Center for Dreamers
