Sleep Monsters & Superheroes: Empowering Children through Creative Dreamplay
Clare R. Johnson and Jean M. Campbell, Editors
If just one dream can give a child solace after bereavement or self-worth after abuse, what might be possible when we help children to work and play with their dreams on a regular basis?
Children can feel powerless in waking life, a fact that is often reflected in their dreams. This book shows how to take an active role in guiding children’s dreams to help grow their confidence and improve their coping skills for real-life difficulties. An all-star team of expert contributors provide simple techniques to help children to do dreamwork for creative discovery and empowerment.
Each chapter includes case studies and methods for working in practical ways with children, explaining what may trigger nightmares for children and how “monster” dreams can be guided to become “superhero” dreams. Experts discuss dreams of trauma, dreams as part of emotional and physical development, dreaming in the community, spiritual or religious dreams, lucid dreams, dreams during wartime, and dreams of death, among others. Dreams are shown to be teaching aids for use in art therapy, storytelling, and self-empowerment.
Published 2016 by ABC-Clio/Praeger, USA.
