4-year-old nightmare of talking snakes

[lauraviv]

My four-year-old has been bothered by nightmares lately. Here is what he told us today:

Sometimes he has bad dreams of animals coming into the house and talking to him. He said snakes and sometimes worms come into the house and say really scary things to him. He said he can't tell us what they say because it is really scary. He said they try to make him stay downstairs and when he tries to come upstairs (where our bedrooms are) he slips and falls back down. Then, he says he "whacks" them. My husband asked him if he uses a hockey stick, and he said no, he throws sand and dust at them. Then they go away.

We did see a group of snakes outside a couple weeks ago which he was afraid of. We filled our sandbox recently, and the sand is still very dusty. They have been talking about gardens at nursery school and so possibly worms.

Still, I find talking snakes and the connection with sand/dust unsettling. Would appreciate your thoughts.

 

[parsley]

It just wrenches the heart to wonder if your son is going through something you can't get a handle on.

His age seems typical when kids start verbalizing their dreams, and converting their fears into nightmares... maybe we just notice this because they can finally describe it.
It's also an age where kids' imaginations are so vivid that it's hard to tell whether they're telling a story or talking about a real event. (Wait until school starts, lol.)
With that said, I've heard stories of children taunted by supernatural things, so keep listening to him and be there for him.

4-year-old nightmare of talking snakes My four-year-old has been bothered by nightmares lately. Here is what he told us today:

Sometimes he has bad dreams of animals coming into the house and talking to him. He said snakes and sometimes worms come into the house and say really scary things to him.

One of the scary things about these creatures, is their lack of hands. They have no legs and arms, and still can propel themselves. That gives them a mystique that makes us feel like we don't know what else they can do. And they show up unexpectedly.

He said he can't tell us what they say because it is really scary. He said they try to make him stay downstairs and when he tries to come upstairs (where our bedrooms are) he slips and falls back down. Then, he says he "whacks" them. My husband asked him if he uses a hockey stick, and he said no, he throws sand and dust at them. Then they go away.

We did see a group of snakes outside a couple weeks ago which he was afraid of. We filled our sandbox recently, and the sand is still very dusty. They have been talking about gardens at nursery school and so possibly worms.

He might have a mixed fascination-with-fear that is raising adrenaline and distracting him. Our observations of spiritual forces show that spirit beings like to taunt and petrify, disable and condemn. Fear often opens the door, when someone doesn't know they can be in charge.

Keep encouraging the hockey stick/ sand approaches. Also teach him that he can tell them to go away in Jesus' name, and they will. That is the authority God has handed over to us, through His power and authority. It doesn't matter whether he is small or big -- God made up the rules. God even gave Adam charge of the animals, so it works both ways. (There are risks to telling kids they can command away dangerous animals, obviously.)

Still, I find talking snakes and the connection with sand/dust unsettling. Would appreciate your thoughts.

Use the incident as a way to teach your child how much God wants to defend him, and how God gave us that authority to tell bad things to go away. If it turns out to be nothing, then no harm done. If you find that snakes creep into your own room, well then we need to keep brainstorming.

 

[rossignol]

I don't know if he's old enough to teach him that his dreams are telling him what things in life he needs to deal with yet.

I had really bad vivid dreams at a young age. You know by his dreams what he's troubled with. Talking about them helps and giving him a suggestion of how to conquer or get away from them when he's dreaming is good. I used flying to get away from things in my dreams. Thinking about what I would do when I was awake helped me control portions of my dreams.

 

[kimmiemae]

Hi, I agree with Parsley. Kids are pretty tuned into the spirit world. As adults our intellect and analysis get in the way.

This is a good time to teach him his identity in Christ. With Jesus he has a sword mentioned in Ephesians 6. Tell him about the armor of God that he has access to and pray with him that he can be a warrior in his dreams or even when he is awake. Teach him to use the name of Jesus...it is effective whether he speaks Jesus' name or even just thinks Jesus in his mind. Tell him about angels that protect and fight valiantly to keep him safe.

As parents, we had to learn about the open doors in our life that allowed the enemy access to our children. Once we prayed, repented, etc then the torment stopped. Our children still have dreams, but they aren't the tormenting types.

Recently I was tormented by some dreams...I am a survivor of rape. My husband and I prayed and fasted and I have not had those dreams again. PRAISE GOD!!!

 

[lauraviv]

Thank you for your supportive responses. He did say before that he has an angel that comes and gives him good dreams, but he seems to struggle with the idea that he can call on his angel. Unfortuneately, he already has the idea that angels aren't real even though I tell him they are. I will try some of your suggestions. Thanks again.

 

[kimmiemae]

hmm...he already has the idea that angels are not real. WOW! I wonder how he got that idea? I don't think angels of God's Holy army would leave that impression.

 

[lauraviv]

Yes, ins't that strange since he still thinks the Easter bunny is real...sigh. I assumed the idea that angels aren't real was somehow absorbed from the culture around us. Kimmiemae you raise a good point.

I do think he has an angel watching over him, but he doesn't identify it as such. He said there is a tall "guy" that stands in his doorway and wears long stuff like God. (He means our pastor who he sometimes calls God.) He says the bad guys come up behind this tall guy and he gets rid of them.

He hasn't questioned the reality of this guy or the bad ones, but thinks the angel that gives him good dreams isn't real. He calls the one that gives him good dreams a she. He first said something like, "She uses magic to give me good dreams, but she isn't real." I read to him from his children's bible about appearances of angels, and he later said, "you can't see her but she's there. She grants me special wishes."

 

[humblewatchman]

Yes, ins't that strange since he still thinks the Easter bunny is real...sigh. I assumed the idea that angels aren't real was somehow absorbed from the culture around us. I think you are very right about that being from our culture/media. It seems to equate magic and spirits as fantasy stuff that cartoons and movies are made of....to equate Jesus with Santa Clause, and angels with the existence and reality of ghosts. Also, children think that if they begin to believe in angels that they will also have to believe in bad spirits and things that are evil. They "don't" want to go there. It becomes too complex and scary. Even for me as an adult (over 30 years ago prior to being saved) I wasn't at first willing to accept the Holy Spirit because that would mean the devil is real....and I so very much didn't want him and his evil entities to be real. Satan's wide spread societal lie that he and his cohorts aren't real, is the most inviting lie to accept....it seems to eliminate alot of trouble and stress to cast it all aside as fantasy and excuse it all away. It keeps you aligned with the "norm", and therefore better maintains your acceptance among the majority ...the unbelievers...


I do think he has an angel watching over him, but he doesn't identify it as such. He said there is a tall "guy" that stands in his doorway and wears long stuff like God. (He means our pastor who he sometimes calls God.) He says the bad guys come up behind this tall guy and he gets rid of them. This part sounds really healthy.It reveals that he already knows that God/Pastor has power over the evil. You seem to be a good mother. God bless good mothers....those who see beyond the children's physical needs and looks after the spiritual destiny of their beloved children.

.

 

[gracechick]

That's tough as judging when dreams are generated by their young mind or expressing the spirit world is more difficult with a child that age. I would pray that the Lord opens his understanding about angels and their job as messenger and protector as ordered by the Lord. In other words honey these are the good guys and we happily interact with them for help and guidance that God is giving us.
I would read a verse at night before bed and leave a radio running with an all night Christian station. My child loves this as they hate sleeping in the room down the hall by, but with the radio nights go much better. Our kid absorbs so much of the music playing that I hear them singing along with the radio some mornings. Also it's a great form of spiritual warfare as demons arn't too big about hanging out in a house with prayer and worship music.

 

[humblewatchman]

I saw a teddy bear on TBN just this morning, that you can turn on and he recites scriptures all night to the child. What a way to get the Word inside of the treasure chest of their memory.

 

[keepinitsimple]

My four-year-old has been bothered by nightmares lately. Here is what he told us today:

Sometimes he has bad dreams of animals coming into the house and talking to him. He said snakes and sometimes worms come into the house and say really scary things to him. He said he can't tell us what they say because it is really scary. He said they try to make him stay downstairs and when he tries to come upstairs (where our bedrooms are) he slips and falls back down. Then, he says he "whacks" them. My husband asked him if he uses a hockey stick, and he said no, he throws sand and dust at them. Then they go away.

We did see a group of snakes outside a couple weeks ago which he was afraid of. We filled our sandbox recently, and the sand is still very dusty. They have been talking about gardens at nursery school and so possibly worms.

Still, I find talking snakes and the connection with sand/dust unsettling. Would appreciate your thoughts.

I really try not to post much at present, but the little guy touched my heart with his dream..
I would say to closely observe those he's around, that it may be someone has doors open in their heart that allows Satan to operate in their lives..
Using this verse for reference:
Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth
forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure
bringeth forth evil things.



God bless

 

[lauraviv]

Thanks again to everyone for being so kind in your responses.

 

[gracechick]

I saw a teddy bear on TBN just this morning, that you can turn on and he recites scriptures all night to the child. What a way to get the Word inside of the treasure chest of their memory.

Thanks for the tip

 

[All4HISglory]

Hi Laura. So much has been said here already.

My son once told me that he sees monsters and then one day he stood on the outside of the house and refused to come in for a couple of minutes due to the "monsters". This was around the same time my older kids would turn the lights out and scare each other. I wasn't really sure how to take it since I do believe in the spiritual realm but I also know that my munchkins are a trip.

The only thing I could think to do was reassure him that who we serve causes us to always be able to tell the monsters to go away. I then prayed with him and let him pray. He's three and pretty much repeats the same 5 words 10 times and says Amen. Lol. The only words I recognize him saying are his siblings name, mama, daddy and Jesus. Him praying seemed to really ease him. So now at night instead of us (parents praying) he prays for us and closes us out. He hasn't mentioned seeing them at night in a really long time.

~For Your glory Lord {iPad}

 

[humblewatchman]

Thanks for the tip

Hugging you back!