Children seeing ghosts

[deesmo]

Hi all

My neighbor ans I are very close, share everything. She has a 6 yr old daughter and 2 yr old son. About a month ago, her daughter started waking up multiple times during the night, She would run down stairs with this wild eyed look and just tell her parents that she needed some water or needed to go to the bathroom. She finally told her grandmother that there were kids that were sleeping in the bed with her and under her bed, They were nice at first but she said that now they were telling her that they were going to kill her. This stopped about a week ago and she has been sleeping through the night. The other night my friend told her 2 yr old to go to his sisters room to get something and she heard him talking to someone. She went in there and asked him. He said that he was talking to the man in the closet. She told him that there was no man in the closet. He matter of factly told her that there was and that he said he was going to kill his mommy. He sleeps in a different room but now HE is waking up several times a night. Not a lot of info here but i have a nosy little one trying to read what I'm typing:) Other things have happened and i hope i get the chance to tell more. I would really like to giver her some advice as to what to do. Thanks!

[Q-C]

Oops, wrong poster. But anyway,

Kids pick up on more than we think they do. And we (or other relatives or friends) are not always as covert in our speaking about ghosts and such things as we think we are. And our fears are not always easy to hide.

So couldn't they possibly be imaginations from something they've heard from others or on television? Or the 2-year-old from the 6-year-old and others discussing what the older child has reported happening in her room?

Edited January 2, 2014 by QuiteContrary

[Rafterman]

My four-year-old swears there is an elephant in her room.

Frankly, I'd be concerned if kids that age WEREN'T telling such stories.

[toast]

My four-year-old swears there is an elephant in her room.

Frankly, I'd be concerned if kids that age WEREN'T telling such stories.

Hahaha!

Ask her/him about the color of the elephant and her/him should ask him for his name, and tell you.

[Brian Topp]

Seems to be a common theme here with parents worried that something is haunting their children. To every parent out there who thing a monster is watching your children. You don't remember what the things you did when you were a kid? Did you ask your parents or grandparents about your kids acting weird? It's normal, My daughter use to talk to the fridge because she thought it was talking back when it hummed, she went through the sleeping stage and we found out she got scared because my wife shown her a 1980s horror movie when i was at work and gave my daughter nightmares.

It isn't paranormal, It's Normal.

Further more, children pick up things, like behaviors, arguments, moods and they do not know how to react to them so they start acting wierd. Like when my wife had "that time of the month" my daughter was constantly burying my shoes in the dirty laundry because she thought me going to work was upsetting my wife.

Edited January 3, 2014 by Brian Topp

[Crabby Kitten]

Is there a night light in the children's room? If not that maybe it's worth you getting one as children are really scared of the dark. Now I can assure you that nothing is going to harm them or you. Don't let these nightmare spooky things frighten you because if you're scared, then the children will become even more frightened. One of the best solutions of bad dreams, hallucinations, scary kids imaginations or even a naughty ghost is to ignore it.

Welcome to UM

[deesmo]

Hi again. Thanks for your responses. My neighbors husband thinks nothing of it. My neighbor is quite concerned though. There have been couple of other things that have happened. They had no kida when they moved in and her older nephew asked who the kid was playing on the top landing. There was so much chaos with moving that everyone brushed him off. There has been one other young family member who refuaed to sleep in the room. My daughter has stayed and had no problem sleeping in there. Just all seems odd. Oh and in reference to the child who has an elephant..my daughter says rhat there is a tiny monster named earl who lives in our garage! Sorry for grammatical errors. Typing on phone

Edited January 3, 2014 by deesmo

[Strigoaica]

Hi deesmo,

maybe your neighbour's nephew told the kids about that boy on the top landing. Speaking from the experience of an older cousin: Cousins can be cruel.

My approach is that your neighbour's children got scared by a story like the one mentioned above and their imagination did the rest. Which doesn't make it less scary for the children themselves. They obviously don't feel safe at night. That's why I wouldn't ignore their reports. I'd support them in challenging their fears instead. Probably by saying something like "Why would anyone want to harm you?" Additionally, I'd do whatever helps the children to overcome their fears: Leave a light on, leave the door open, use a baby monitor... you name it. (Inner child adds: "Let them have a doooog!" )

Edited January 4, 2014 by Strigoaica

[Skellywelly]

Is there a night light in the children's room? If not that maybe it's worth you getting one as children are really scared of the dark. Now I can assure you that nothing is going to harm them or you. Don't let these nightmare spooky things frighten you because if you're scared, then the children will become even more frightened. One of the best solutions of bad dreams, hallucinations, scary kids imaginations or even a naughty ghost is to ignore it.

Welcome to UM

Lol the nightlight always help

[coolguy]

When my little niece was like 4 or 5, they where driving back from Florida,her mom saw her talking and laughing.

Her mom said who you talking to she said aunt carol.my aunt carol passed away 9 years ago.

They never talked about her in front of the kid.very strange

[Beany]

Sometimes I think kids fears manifest themselves with this sort of thing, known as thought forms. Stay in communication with your kids and recognize that if there is something going on that's making them anxious or fearful, they don't yet have the language to express that nor the ability to even recognize it. Best medicine: lots of hugs, reading stories with them next to you, some quiet time, walks with them holding your hand, all those loving things parents do.

[Mantis914]

Every time I pick up my little 5 mo. old daughter, she always looks above my head like she sees something above and behind me then she will look directly at me and make the usual cooing noises. There was one time she did that again looking above me and then she froze and then when she looked at me, she made a sound like the Grudge ghosts but in a babies small voice while staying perfectly still and those of you who are parents know 5 mo. olds don't stay still much even in their sleep. I don't think she's haunted but I hope she doesn't have too big of an active imagination like I did as a kid...

[acute]

Is there a night light in the children's room? If not ... maybe it's worth you getting one as children are really scared of the dark.

I would say exactly the opposite!

Sleep specialists all agree that the way to get a child to sleep is to have the bedroom for sleeping only. That's lights out, door shut, tv, music, and gadgets all off. A child can't invent a face in the wallpaper, or in the grain of the wardrobe, if he/she can't see it.

[Buddhabob]

Every time I pick up my little 5 mo. old daughter, she always looks above my head like she sees something above and behind me then she will look directly at me and make the usual cooing noises. There was one time she did that again looking above me and then she froze and then when she looked at me, she made a sound like the Grudge ghosts but in a babies small voice while staying perfectly still and those of you who are parents know 5 mo. olds don't stay still much even in their sleep. I don't think she's haunted but I hope she doesn't have too big of an active imagination like I did as a kid...

That would bug me a bit probably from all the horror movies and paranormal shows I've watched. It's not too odd I guess for a child to look up and around, especially if there's a light. My mom told me that when I was a baby i'd use to watch the ceiling fan so I can imagine my eyes were all over the place as I watched the blades spin.

Hi deesmo,

maybe your neighbour's nephew told the kids about that boy on the top landing. Speaking from the experience of an older cousin: Cousins can be cruel.

My approach is that your neighbour's children got scared by a story like the one mentioned above and their imagination did the rest. Which doesn't make it less scary for the children themselves. They obviously don't feel safe at night. That's why I wouldn't ignore their reports. I'd support them in challenging their fears instead. Probably by saying something like "Why would anyone want to harm you?" Additionally, I'd do whatever helps the children to overcome their fears: Leave a light on, leave the door open, use a baby monitor... you name it. (Inner child adds: "Let them have a doooog!" )

I also vote a dog! Animal friends can work wonders. I've had animal friends in my house all of my life and i'd probably go insane without them.

[ReddHeadsRantings]

A night light and asking open questions wil build more and easier talk as they get older and sometimes there is something there

My son (4 1/2) had complanied about the man in his room for about a month

Id lived there for almost 10 years and there had been walking down hall footfalls and afew other stuffs

There were 3 graveyards i could see from my window (springlake nc-near ft bragg) all small like 20 or less marked

I took a falling down piece of crap i was refused insurance on - spent 10 months hard labor on it - and same comoany that refused me insured me for 75k - spent 5k on it and 2k in parts another 750 for labor i couldnt do - loved it !

48 days before i was moving out i tried to put dishes away-they keep falling off shelf to floor no matter what i did-then all 5 shelves hailed down on me (all plastic) LEAVE THEM AND GET OUT OR NEXT WILL BE BREAKING GLASS ON YOUR FACE

I grabbed uniforns, ready bag, and "baby ready bag" as i was in army got in truck and never went back

My son 16 now still turns green talking about it

The man i married 45 days later went during daylight only & packed & moved it all

His brother & dad said it was cold & smelled sulfery - but ive always thought that was due to too much movies, beer & lazy than cause they went once & that was enough

[Pearls]

It is within the realm of normalcy for a child to fear under the bed and basement or a closet. They might believe they see something from time to time and even come to a belief that something bad is in the closet. It wont last and goes away with maturity. However the fact that the child made such a statement about his mother is disturbing. I would ask your friend not to take this too lightly and to talk with the child more about why he feels that the man wants to hurt his mom.

It is sometimes the wish of the child that is coming through. A child does not have the maturity to understand such violent strange thoughts and might put them onto someone else.

Your friend will know if her child has demonstrated any alarming behaviors in his young life, if she knows you support her concerns she might get the child assessed by a child psychologist and then you will know if this is something to deal with or just let it phase out on its own.