5 Tips to Help Kids Ward Off Nightmares

Nightmares not only disrupt sleeping patterns but can also cause stress and anxiety depending on the frequency. For children, most nightmares occur due to something that they saw or heard that seemed frightening or they didn’t understand. Leaving their imagination to fill in the pieces. The health experts at Envolve, an integrated healthcare solutions company, are pleased to share five tips to help you help your kids keep nightmares at bay.

Listen & Reassure. If children call out in the middle of the night, providing a hug and sense of security can go a long way. Remind them that they’re safe, at home, and that nothing bad is happening to them. Take some deep breaths together, and let them tell you about the nightmare. If needed, check out the closet or under the bed to show it’s safe. Giving extra snuggles while reminding them it was just a dream can help a great deal.

Prep During Day. If their nightmares are consistent in storyline, character or environment, try incorporating daytime activities to address particular fears in a happier setting. Read a book together that has the fear featured in the storyline but ultimately ends happily. Look for coloring books or puzzles with the feared animal or character to open up the dialogue about why those are scary. Talking through the nightmare and changing the ending to a positive one while providing something fun to relate to may help calm your child’s mind at night.

Get Creative. Sometimes you just have to go on a monster hunt! Leave enough time before bed to search the room for monsters together with flashlights. Hang up a “no monsters allowed” sign on the door or go shopping and let your child pick out a new nightlight. When nighttime comes, let your child take to bed whatever comfort item helps create a feeling of security – even if it’s the family dog!

Reinforce Routine. Bedtime routines minimize stress and create predictability. If nightmares are a frequent occurrence, make sure you take steps to help calm and comfort your child. Turning on the nightlight, checking under the bed and looking in the closet can help. Also reading a happy story are things that can be incorporated. This also helps alleviate anxiety.

Face the Fear. Sometimes the best way to address a fear is to face it head on. Depending on what is keeping your child up a night, seeing or doing something “in real life” may help in distinguishing the difference between a nightmare and reality. If the fear is fantasy based, work together to rewrite the ending. Talk through the bad dream. Then come up with silly and light-hearted ways to change the ending to one that leaves a smile.

About Envolve, Inc.®

Envolve, Inc.® is a family of health solutions. Working to make healthcare simpler, more effective and more accessible for everyone. As an agent for change in healthcare, Envolve is committed to transforming the health of the community. Envolve unifies medical management, utilization management, specialty pharmacy, PBM, vision, dental, behavioral health management, life and health/wellness management, empowerment and education services, telehealth services, 24/7 nurse advice services, and data, analytics and IT solutions. For more information, please visit our website www.envolvehealth.com or contact us today at mediainquiries@envolvehealth.com.

MASK the Parenting Magazine a quarterly publication providing solutions for Today’s Families.

The parenting manual offering solutions to the modern-day challenges families face. From Pre-K

through College stay up to date on the modern day issues families face.

Are you up to date on the issues your child is facing?

MASK Mothers Awareness on School-age Kids offers parenting solutions for today’s families. MASK tackles important topics – from drugs and alcohol to bullying and Internet safety -and gives students, parents and the community the knowledge and tools to manage these potential challenges.

Subscribe today! https://www.tools4teaching.com/product/mask-the-magazine/