kids see ghosts

Kids seeing ghosts, what does it mean? Childhood imagination is boundless, and one common experience for children is to see "The Bogeyman" or "the monster under the bed" which is not real. However, some children may be experiencing an unusual and complex condition where they can see/sense the dead...

For most of us, the idea of the afterlife is a remote and untouchable concept. There are those rare individuals who claim to have had direct experience or that their religion has given them proof of this existence. However, there is an increasing amount of evidence that indicates that children may indeed be able to have contact with the dead! Maybe even more so than adult counterparts.

In a recent Iowa Straw Poll conducted by the University of Iowa, it was discovered that 1.8% of children between the ages of 5 and 12 report seeing dead relatives or spirits around them. The poll showed that more boys (2.5%) at a rate three times greater than girls (1.0%). 

We have heard of children who play with imaginary friends. These friends can even be quite complex and possess personalities, habits, sexes, and other traits that would seem to indicate that they are more than imaginary. Psychologist Barbara Mish, a professor at the University of Virginia states: "I don't think they're necessarily playing. I think they're seeing."

But what gives? How is it that children can see what adults cannot? Maybe the kids are more in tune with their imaginations than are most adults who have been taught to accept reality and to be logical and realistic. Dr. Ryan Bremner, a child psychologist at the University of Louisville Hospital who works with children believes that children are more in tune with their senses and that kids have a higher level of what is known as ‘parasense’. This is something people can do without thinking or knowing it, such as the ability to read body language or know when someone is lying.

Dr. Bremner says: "When you look at the whole picture, kids are more receptive to things like this." So why would kids be able to see ghosts/spirits? Maybe they can sense "parasenses" or energies left behind by some people who have crossed over into the afterlife.

The most recent scientific study of its kind, the International Survey of Children's Near-Death Experiences (ISNDE), was conducted by a 15-member team of medical doctors, nurses, and psychologists from across the world. The main researcher on this groundbreaking study was Dr. Melvin Morse, well known in the field for his research into the near-death experience. The survey was taken between 1995 and 1996 and included 1160 children ages four to twelve years in eight different countries... Researchers believe that children have more experience with ghosts because they are less bound by conventional beliefs and are naturally open to new ideas and experiences.

Kids see ghostly images on TV & in movies. They have experienced premonitions – prior to major events. They can communicate with deceased relatives even though they may not remember it later. Most kids go through a period where they are sensitive to "the other side" and/or enjoy gatherings at graveyards. They have visions, get feelings of being watched and followed, sense things that others don't, hear unexplained footsteps and noises.

Kids seeing ghosts is not the same as having nightmares or experiencing a full-blown "possession" or "demon attack". While these are all possible, when kids see ghosts or signs of the dead it's usually just that – a feeling or an impression. There is no need to panic, in fact, some people believe it's a gift.

Children become aware of the other side while still in their mother's womb. As they grow up and get older, their experiences change. They react with fear or awe, seldom with a sense of control. They have trouble understanding what they see and often are scolded for any kind of behavior related to ghosts or occult practices.

It is said that around 10% of the world's population can see ghosts when they are young but their minds develop a natural screen so eventually, they lose much of this ability. Children who can see ghosts will not necessarily have visions or signs only when alone but, in some cases, the other side seems to be attracted to their light and becomes a real part of their life for a while...

The idea of being able to see ghosts is a compelling one. It's also an exciting prospect for children, who have the opportunity to learn about both sides of life in their formative years when they are most open-minded and curious. If your child has these abilities or you know someone that does, it's worth discussing with them what they're seeing so that this gift can be used wisely without fear.