As for the OP I <knocks wood> agree.
Why couldn’t you accept that it was a gift from the kids grandma and say “Kids when you look at this before you go to sleep, it will remind you that your Granma and I are looking after you and will protect you from harm.”
Geeze, there’s no reason to belittle your kids because they have childlike fears and beliefs. Give the kids something to cling to when they’re afraid, even if it’s only a belief that you’re there to take care of them.
You call that belittling?
Wow, sensitive much?
Steronz belittling them in his post to us, the readers.
What, do I need to repeat previous post?
ETA: honestly, I’m not convinced the world wouldn’t be better off if adults didn’t push so many rubbish beliefs onto children.
They’re kids. What is wrong with having such fantasies? Do you think this sort of mind state will follow them into adulthood and they’ll believe in the power of the Magic 8 ball? It’s fun, it’s childhood, no need to ruin it for them.
And the dreamcatchers? Let’s leave any talk about superstition out of it and ask why you were opposed to a non-intrusive, calming, relaxing item being introduced for your childrens bedrooms? Let any “superstition” talk go in one ear and out the other and just use it for the calming nighttime aid that it is.
It seems fitting to mention this after hearing about Sir Terry Pratchett’s death today:
To be fair, I know jack shit about parenting. I never criticize someone else’s parenting unless it’s, you know, abuse.
But people seem to be jumping on the OP, making assumptions, for little good reason. For all we know steronz is a terrific parent and is adored by the children.
I’m with steronz on one point: superstitions bug me, too. I have no idea what age is the best time to try to disabuse children of superstitions and teach them rational thinking, but my guess is a 6-year isn’t going to be particularly harmed in being told that dream-catchers are pretty pieces of artwork and nothing more. Rather than hearing about some magical thing that will protect them, why not just teach them that the dreams won’t really hurt them? And that you (the parent) are there no matter what?
Speaking for myself, I heartily wish adults had been straighter with me about the real world than they were, when I was that age and being fed rubbish about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, a Heavenly Father, and similar nonsense.
Frankly I think these types of fantasies are more to make adults feel good about themselves than they are about what children actually need.
I’m sorta the Anti-OP on this one. I’m doing a play again, after not doing anything on stage in more than 20 years. I was a theatre major as an undergrad, even did some grad work before pursuing other things. Did community/dinner theater for several years after that. The theatre has many superstitions, including one about not mentioning the name of, or guoting from “The Scottish Play” in the theatre building, on stage, or even backstage, unless one is actually involved in a production of that play at the time. So last week at rehearsal, one of the actors (a guy doing his first play, naturally), said the “M Word” right in the center of the stage.
I don’t actually believe any of us were in mortal danger due to this faux pas, but still, traditionalist that I am, I enforced the time honored ritual. Grabbed the guy by the arm, led him off the stage and all the way out of the theatre. Closed the door in his face. Made him knock and ask permission to enter. Made him spin around three times. Made him spit and swear. Made him promise never to do it again. Then allowed him to re-enter.
It was all in good fun, and educational for those that were unaware of the tradition. If it happens again, I’ll do the same thing. It’s just an actor thing.
One of the hallmarks of aging is letting rude shit fall carelessly from one’s mouth. Practice thinking before you speak. **Especially **if you have young children living at home. Today’s careless throwaway remark might be the thing they remember most about you after you’re dead.
I dunno but, the older I get, the more I find superstitions charming.
We need to dump old superstitions. They are boring. Bring on different, exciting superstitions!
Like, did you know that albino body parts bring wealth and good luck?
On the wall? That’s why you’re gettign inconsistent results. Dreams cannot pass through walls. The dream catchers must be hung in the windows. And make sure they are facing the right way to let bad dreams exit but not enter.
Correct.
See? Here is where it begins to impinge on my lifestyle. 
I am not hanging anything on my windows; my blinds go there.
Anyway these days I have no dreamcatchers at all.
“This sort of mind state” leads to belief in astrology, cartomancy, clairvoyance, crystal power, numerology, Ouija boards, palmistry, psychics, pyramid power, séances, stichomancy, tarot, and voodoo science. What’s wrong with having such beliefs? They’re fun, lots of adults believe in them, no need to ruin it for anybody.
I guess it depends on whether you think that the belief is harmless or harmful.
Probably apocyphal story about Niels Bohr, who created the first atomic model of hydrogen.
A reporter was interviewing Bohr, and noticed at one point a lucky horseshoe over his door. “As a scientist”, the reporter asked, “you don’t really believe in superstitions, do you?”
“No”, said Bohr, “of course not. However, I am told that a horseshoe brings you good luck whether you believe in it or not.”
Regards,
Shodan
Not to mention a general rejection of science, which leads to anti-vaxxers, creationists, 911 Truthers, CT nuts, etc etc etc. Adults shouldn’t believe this crap. Dream catchers, lucky coins, horseshoes DON’T DO ANYTHING. Believing in them as adults is pathetic.
And to people hanging dream catchers from their car mirrors! What, do they do a lot of sleeping whilst driving?
A vendor was trying to win my business and in a visit to his office building, bragged about spending over $1,000,000 on a redesign by hiring a feng sui expert.
After that, for the rest of the visit he couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t taking his pitch seriously.
These are the rational ones who view a dream catcher for what it actually is: a pretty piece of art to look at.