bad dreams after starting nursery

[geranium]

My child has just started part-time at a lovely nursery. The teachers seem very caring, the group size is small and ds seems perfectly happy to go there for 2.5 hours 3 times a week. However, he has started to have bad dreams since he has started going to the nursery. These only coincide with nursery days and in the dreams he tends to say things like "I want to do glueing" or "I don't want to do painting". I don't think he remembers the dreams in the mornings and I don't want to mention them in case they become a big deal.

Question is: should I leave this to blow over as he gets more use to nursery or can I do something. For example, are there any books on bad dreams that he and I could read together - this would not necessarily be to highlight his dreams but just to talk generally on the subject and give him the vocabulary to tell me about his thoughts if he becomes more aware of the dreams.

Can anyone suggest any books/anything else here?

Thanks

[Mercy]

Geranium, how old is your ds? I'm guessing he's around 2.5/3.5 which is a fairly common time to start having nightmares. dd was about 3.5 when she started having them (also when she started nursery) and initially she didn't remember them. A year later she can remember and discusses her dreams with us either immediatley after or in the morning.

Can't suggest any books or remedies I'm afraid. I think it;s just one of those developmental things they go through. There's an awful lot going on in those little heads and as with adults, some issues get dealt with in the form of nightmares.

I don't think it's worth making a big deal of though, unless his daytime behaviour also becomes a concern

Sorry not much help really

[geranium]

No, that is helpful! You're quite right, he is 2.5. I'm also assuming that he is just trying to take in all they do at nursery. It is a big step for him since he's never played round other children much and only ever been left alone with my parents. Helpful to know that at least in your case it was better not to make too much of it and that it sorted itself out as your daughter got older and more articulate.

[Mercy]

Yes,all these things are huge steps for little children- it's so easy for us adults to forget that. dd has just started fulltime reception and she's had a few bad dreams recently which surprised me as she's in the same building, with more or less the same children as in her nursery class. But it's a different teacher and nursery nurse and a more structured routine. It's just like us starting a new job (or having your first baby) - very scary to start with

[geranium]

Bump. Anyone else had experience of this?