Parents are concerned that some children behave peculiarly at any time of the night. They begin to “butt” head cushions or headboard. Sometimes, relying on their hands, children rhythmically swing back and forth, instead of sleeping at night. These phenomena are common in young children and are considered normal. There is an opinion that such movements calm them down. By three years, as a rule, they pass and do not require treatment.
Serious attention should be paid to such behavior when they manifest themselves at an older age, or when children by these actions try to attract increased attention. “Butting and swinging” can be a manifestation of emotional distress and require the intervention of a psychotherapist. If such children cause damage to themselves by their actions, then the bed should be made soft, without backs. If “butting” and swinging stubbornly do not pass or are periodically repeated after three years, then the child should be shown to a neurologist.
Nightmare dreams
They occur quite often and can chase the child throughout the day, causing anxiety and irritability. The memory of a frightening nightmare often leads to the refusal of children to go to bed at all. Children protest their beds or do not want to fall asleep alone. Dreadful dreams are different from ordinary in that they are very bright, convincing and detailed. Their content scares the child, because the plot of the dream is associated with threat, pain, persecution, attacks. Most nightmares occur in the last third of the night and are therefore remembered. Most often, children from 3 to 6 years old talk about them, for whom it is difficult to distinguish between dream and reality. Dreadful dreams can be the result of stress, but, as a rule, they are not considered pathological until 6 years of age.Arising at a later date or often enough, nightmarish dreams may indicate an emotional disorder that may requirecounseling psychotherapist. The cause of stress with the outcome of nightmares can be a divorce or a quarrel of parents, the death of loved ones or lack of attention and caress to the child.