Childrens' dreams


David Foulkes made a systematic collection and investigation of the dreams of children in different age groups.

Age 3 - 4 years

  • short dream reports containing little action and emotion
  • playing in familiar surroundings, animals a frequent topic

Age 5 - 6 years

  • longer dream reports
  • more movement and activity in the dreams
  • often family members and friends in the dreams
  • strikingly passive role of dreamer
  • girls dream more often of friendly encounters with happy endings and have pleasant feelings
  • boys dream more often of unhappy themes and conflicts

Age 9 - 12 years (Preadolescents)

  • play a more active role in dreams than younger age groups
  • dreams take place at home, outdoors, or at school
  • family members or playmates in dreams
  • gender difference of 5-6 year olds no longer present
  • however, boys dream more about male strangers
  • pleasant feelings present more often than in younger groups
  • older boys have aggressive dreams twice as often as girls

Age 13 - 15 years (Adolescents)

  • decreased frequency of pleasant dreams
  • increased frequency of bizarre elements
  • family members appear less often
Conclusions
  • The majority of children's dreams are not disturbing or frightening.
  • As children grow from toddlers to adolescents, the changes in their dreams reflect stages of cognitive development against a background of real-life situations: home environment, school, and the development of a personal and sexual identity.

Ref.: Foulkes (1962)

 

 

 

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