The Miami Herald – Rachel Spector
“Scary dreams are, well, scary, both for the adults who worry about what’s frightening their children and for the youngsters who think their nightmares are real. Bad dreams seem to peak during the preschool years, when fear of the dark is common. They’re also prevalent in children ages 6 to 10. That’s when kids tend to incorporate real-life fears – such as being kidnapped or shot – into their dreams. One study by Dutch researchers, in fact, found that 96 percent of 7- to 9-year-olds reported having nightmares, as compared with 68 percent of 4- to 6-year-olds and 76 percent of 10- to 12-year-olds.” (more)