Just as we may actually urinate in our sleep if we dream of going to the bathroom, a child could actually find herself on the floor next to the bed if she dreams of falling. The point: Sometimes dreams mirror what's actually happening to our bodies. However, falling in a dream usually reflects insecurities or a state of feeling overwhelmed. Falling can be a metaphor for feeling as if certain areas in life are out of control or falling apart, so to speak. On the flip side, falling can also have a positive association, and can represent adventure if falling leads to pleasant surprises, such as in Alice in Wonderland.

In dreams, dads can certainly represent themselves, which means they can be depicted as authoritative, protective, and strong. In dreams, he can by symbolized by the king character, or he can be shown as a savior or wise, old man. However, if in real life, a child or adolescent's dad doesn't take on these caregiving roles and instead is absent, aggressive, or controlling, then the child may characterize his father in positive ways to signify what he longs for. On the flip side, a child may represent his dad for what he is, symbolizing him as a stranger, villain, or a threatening creature in nightmares. In addition, just as people will say that children look or act like their parents, a child will see aspects of his personality that he likes or dislikes depicted in the father figure in his dreams. When girls dream about their fathers, they may also be thinking about masculine qualities within themselves.

In dreams, water represents the deeper part of ourselves, i.e., the subconscious. Because it can be associated with the unknown, uncharted waters related to the depths of our subconscious and concealed emotions can contain symbolic creatures, such as sharks, connected to danger or anger. However, water also has many positive associations, such as swimming and spending time with family. So if a child dreams of playing happily in a pool she's probably feeling good about herself and what's happening in her life.

Boats in dreams can be metaphors for how we're traveling through life's waters. Are we moving along easy, or have we hit rocky waters? Therefore, as children grow and develop, boats may appear in dreams to symbolize how they're feeling about whether they're progressing, regressing, are at a standstill, or whether they feel overwhelmed. For example, if the motor on a boat in a child's dream isn't working, he may feel as if he doesn't have the energy to accomplish tasks or goals. Or maybe he's lost interest in something. Then there's the popular expression: "You've missed the boat." Because of that, someone who, for example, dreams about not getting on a boat before it disembarks may be thinking about a missed opportunity.

Fish in dreams can represent deep emotions.

In dreams, water represents the deeper part of ourselves, i.e., the subconscious. It can be associated with the unknown, relating to the depths of our subconscious and concealed emotions. However, because a lake is a smaller body of water in comparison to an ocean, it's possible the feelings the lake symbolizes might not be as overwhelming in comparison to what the ocean may symbolize in a dream. On the upside, water also has many positive associations, such as swimming and spending time with family. So if a child dreams of playing happily in a lake, she's probably feeling good about herself and what's happening in her life.