Dreaming of children is a common experience, but there are many different ways to interpret these dreams, which can make deciphering them a challenge.
To help, in this post, we discuss the question, “what is the meaning of children in a dream?” so you can work out what the dream you had signifies to you.
what is the meaning of small child in dream
1. Not enjoying life enough
Very often, when we dream about children, we are seeing a representation of our own inner child. This means to understand the dream, we need to understand how the child in the dream is feeling and how that relates to our current situation in life.
If a child is sad and isn’t playing happily, it can be taken as a sign that we have become too serious or too focused on the “grown-up” things in life and aren’t allowing ourselves enough time to have fun.
Take time to analyze your life and see if this rings true for you. We all need downtime and moments to enjoy life, even if we dedicate much of our time to serious matters like our careers.
As a result, having this dream could be a reminder that we need to learn how to play again. We need to recapture some of the innocence of childhood and learn how to have fun.
Make time to savor life and enjoy the moments you have with your loved ones because these are the things that are truly what matter most.
2. Unrealized potential
Another possibility is that dreaming of a child represents your unfulfilled potential.
Children are like blank slates. They go to school and take exams, and if they work hard, they grow up and become successful adults.
When they are children, they also have their dreams for the future – but unfortunately, many of those dreams are forgotten as they grow older and become more focused on the daily grind.
For this reason, dreaming of a child could be a message that you once had big dreams too – and that it’s never too late to chase them.
Children believe they can achieve anything because of the innocence and naivety of childhood, but sometimes adults need to recapture that sense of innocence and naivety too.
Many people fail to achieve their dreams just through negative thinking and believing that things are impossible. But if you try to think like a child again, everything becomes possible, and this means it’s never too late to achieve what you’ve always wanted to achieve.
3. In need of reassurance
If the child in your dream seemed shy or unsure of themselves, this could reflect feelings of insecurity or a need for reassurance from others in your adult life.
Children often need this kind of reassurance, but sometimes in moments of hesitancy, adults do too.
Consider the things in life you are feeling unsure about – like changing jobs, moving house or getting married – and talk them through with your friends. This will help you feel more confident in your decisions, allowing you to act more decisively and with less trepidation.
4. The pressures of adult life – a desire to return to the innocence of childhood
Childhood is usually a carefree time when – perhaps school and exams aside – we are free of the stresses and worries of adult life, giving us plenty of time to enjoy ourselves.
However, as we grow up, our stresses multiply, and this may leave us yearning for the worry-free days of childhood.
Of course, we can’t abandon all our responsibilities – that’s just what adult life is about. However, if your dream makes you realize you are carrying too much on your back, take time out and think about how you can lighten the load.
Sometimes, we can allow the pressures of adult life to build up without us even noticing, but if you have the presence of mind to take stock and jettison some of the unnecessary baggage, you will find you can once again face life with a spring in your step and a smile on your face.
5. You as a child – being held back
When we are children, there are many things that we can’t do, and dreaming of a child – especially dreaming of yourself as a child – may represent you being held back in your adult life and prevented from doing what you want to do.
Take time to think deeply about what it is you hope to achieve in the coming weeks, months and years and consider what it is that’s preventing you from doing it.
Often, when we become consciously aware of the obstacles standing in our way, it becomes easier to find ways to remove them or get round them.
This means that once you realize what is holding you back, you may be able to find a way to push through and finally achieve your goals.
6. Childbirth – fertility and a desire to have a child
A very different interpretation of dreaming about children is also quite an obvious one – it could be a dream about fertility and your desire to become a parent.
Perhaps you are already trying to conceive but so far have not been lucky. In this case, the dream could be a manifestation of your fears that you won’t be able to have children.
However, the dream could be a sign that good luck is on the way, and even if it isn’t, it could be a message telling you to keep trying and not give up hope. Children are a blessing, but sometimes conceiving can take time, so try to be patient.
At the same time, if you are worried about how long it is taking to conceive, you should also consider visiting a fertility specialist to see if there are any reasons why you have not conceived and if there is anything that can be done to help.
It’s always best to do this earlier rather than later since the longer you wait, the harder it may become to conceive.
Alternatively, this dream could be your subconscious’ way of telling you that you are ready to have children and now is the time to start trying.
7. Becoming a parent – change and responsibility
Although becoming a parent is usually a profoundly joyous occasion, having a child can bring with it great change to your life – as well as great responsibility.
This means dreaming of becoming a parent – especially if it happens suddenly and unexpectedly – could be a dream about change or responsibility suddenly being thrust upon you.
The meaning of the dream doesn’t need to be literally about children – it can be metaphorical too. Perhaps you have been given a promotion or a new project to lead at work, and you are feeling the sudden extra pressure this places upon you.
However, be reassured that most people are able to rise to the challenge of bringing up children, and whether your dream is a literal one or a metaphorical one, you will also be able to rise to the challenge – as long as you stick to it and never give up.
8. Afraid of or anxious about change
A dream of having a child could also represent your fear or anxiety about an upcoming change. However, you should always remember that change is a universal constant and that it should be embraced rather than avoided.
With great change comes great opportunity, so this dream could serve as a reminder to you to be ready to grab the opportunities that come your way with both hands.
9. You are becoming overwhelmed by events
Another similar interpretation is that having a child in a dream – or even having to look after one – can represent a feeling in your waking life that you are becoming overwhelmed by events.
Take time to consider this, perhaps through meditation or deep thought, to see how this might apply to you.
If you feel this is the correct interpretation of the dream you had, it might be time to slow down and think about how you can bring everything back under control again instead of just rushing headlong into the future with no clear plan or direction.
10. A new start – relationship, job
A child in a dream can represent a new start in life, whether it’s a new job, a new relationship, moving to a new house in a new area or anything similar.
Again, this kind of new start might make you nervous since you don’t know what the future brings. However, if you can face the future in a positive frame of mind, many new positive experiences are sure to await.
You never know what new friends you’ll make, which new places you’ll see or what other blessings may come your way – so keep positive and look forward to the surprises the future has in store.
11. Sad child – a desire for freedom and independence
If you dream of a sad child or a child shut up indoors, it can tell you that you have a strong desire for freedom or independence.
Is there somebody who is holding you back in life? Is somebody controlling you or preventing you from doing the things you love?
Think about this carefully, and if necessary, resolve any toxic relationships you are trapped in – or bring them to an end entirely.
Many possible interpretations
As we have seen, there are many ways to understand dreams about children. Often the children represent your inner child, but there are other possibilities too.
This means if you want to understand the message in your dream, you should spend time in deep thought and meditation to see how it relates to your current life situation. Then, by trusting your intuition, you will discover the correct interpretation of the dream.