How to Make a Dreamcatcher

A Dreamcatcher is a handmade object made up of a small wooden hoop with some woven thread or wool knotted around it and then decorated with little feathers and beads. The idea is that the dreamcatcher is tied above a child's bed at night and used to protect them from bad dreams.  Only good dreams are permitted to get through the woven web and bad dreams stay in the net and don't interrupt the sleep.  They simply fade away in day light.  However, good dreams trickle down the beaded, feathery strands that hang below onto the sleeping child.

The dreamcatcher originated in Ojibwa Nation in the 1960's and was adopted by other Native Americans over the years.  The idea of dreamcatchers to help children sleep has become more and more popular since then and now dreamcatchers come in all shapes and sizes.

If your child suffers from nightmares or wakes during the night after bad dreams, make them a dreamcatcher!  Get your child involved and maybe it will help with the night time wakes!

Making a dreamcatcher

1. Collect some bendy twigs and secure them safely into a circle using some wire or tightly wound string.
2. Cut some more lengths of string.  Secure one to the circle, stretch it across the other side of the circle and wrap a few times to secure.  Thread some beads onto some of the strands.  Do this with all the string until you have a spider's web effect.  Lots of crossed strands of string securely tied onto the wooden circle.
3. Tie a few more strands to hang down underneath the circle and thread more beads and a couple of feathers.
4. Hang above your child's bed.

"Sweet Dreams!"