For instance, they are frequently constrained by events from the previous day or events in our environment. A controlled way to demonstrate how dreams involve immediate events is by affecting the dream content of a person while in REM sleep. For instance, dipping the finger of a person who is in REM sleep into a cup of water. Later these people will often report having had dreams associated with waterfalls or lakes. Thus, all sorts of external stimuli can influence the content of dreams.
Children often have trouble with comprehending that dreams are subjective experiences.
A little girl may announce at the breakfast table that she had a great time at the circus. The parents reply that she has not been to the circus. There was an elephant it was really fun. The parents will reiterate that the child has not been to the circus and that she should not lie. Young children do not easily differentiate between subjective experiences and objective experiences.