Do you often hear your little ones say, "I can't go to sleep!"?
It's a common struggle for children, whether they're afraid of the dark or just being alone. It is a normal and natural part of being a child.
But don't worry! In this article, I'll introduce you to a fun and easy technique called the "Sweet Dreams Stone" that I like to use with my little kids when they have trouble at bedtime, to help them settle in for a peaceful night's sleep.
So, what is a Sweet Dreams Stone?
A Sweet Dreams Stone is a gemstone that your kids can hold in their hands before sleep and then tuck under their pillow.
It serves as a comforting companion throughout the night, promoting relaxation and tranquility.
How can a Sweet Dreams Stone help?
Here are my top 3 ways in which a Sweet Dreams Stone can benefit your child's sleep:
Calming Tool: Simply holding the gemstone can be a remarkably calming experience. By feeling its weight, rubbing their thumb across its smooth surface, and sensing the stone warming up in their palm, children engage their senses and find comfort in its tangible presence.
Worry Stone: Similar to the concept of worry dolls that you might remember from when you were a child, your child can share their concerns with the Sweet Dreams Stone. Encourage them to confide their worries to the stone, allowing it to take their concerns away. This practice also empowers children to vocalize and share their fears with you before sleep, giving you an opportunity to reassure them before they go to sleep.
Dream Inspiration: this is the most delightful way my kids and I like to use our Sweet Dreams Stone! Simply encourage your child to hold their stone and talk about the kind of sweet dreams they wish to have that night! For my kids, that involves a lot of magical adventures on the back of unicorns, flying up to the sky to visit castles made of chocolate, jumping on fairy floss clouds! Encourage their imagination to soar as they envision magical adventures, fairy encounters, or anything that inspires the sweetest dreams for them. This fun exercise fosters creativity and positive anticipation for bedtime.
How to choose the right gemstone:
Well, the shapes I love the best are palm stones and heart-shaped stones because these fit snugly into our kids palms and they aren't too small so you don't have to worry about them trying to eat them!
And in terms of the type of gemstones I reccomend:
Rose Quartz: This lovely pink variety of quartz promotes self-love, unconditional love, inner peace, and tranquility. Its soothing properties make it perfect for inspiring sweet dreams.
Amethyst: An all-around remarkable stone, amethyst is a beautiful purple variety of quartz. Its calming and protective nature helps quieten mental chatter and open up the mind's eye, creating a peaceful and dream-inspiring atmosphere.
Blue Calcite: Known for its calming and soothing qualities, blue calcite helps alleviate anxiety, stress, and frazzled nerves. This gemstone contributes to a relaxed state of mind, making it an ideal choice as a Sweet Dreams Stone.
Selenite: One of my favourite gemstones, selenite is known to cleanse and purify energy. It has protective properties so it will help to keep nightmares away. It is calming and reduces stress, which makes it a perfect Sweet Dreams Stone.
So there you have it!
Try introducing a Sweet Dreams Stone to your child's bedtime routine and witness the magic unfold.
The tangible presence of the stone, combined with the act of sharing worries and envisioning sweet dreams, creates a calming and comforting atmosphere.
Remember to remind your child that if they wake up feeling anxious during the night, they can find their Sweet Dreams Stone under their pillow and hold onto it or rub it with their thumb to help them fall back asleep.
Wishing you and your little ones many peaceful nights filled with sweet dreams!
I hope it helps xo