Tantrums and dark dramas

Overwhelming emotions during the day can trigger nightmares, reports Helen O’Callaghan.

AT about age two, imagination is kicking in and children can begin to have scary vivid nightmares. If the child has experienced the powerful, overwhelming emotions of a tantrum during the day, this can set off a nightmare that evening.

When dealing with nightmares, parent coach Val Mullally urges parents to trust what she calls their ‘contuition’ — a blend of their conscious knowledge of their child as well as their intuition, gut or heart feeling about what’s needed at any moment.