A 5-year-old boy dreams that he is riding in a car that starts flying, then turns into a monster. At the end of the dream, he dies. The boy tells his mom, "I became a ghost like Grandpa." Which of the following would be an appropriate statement by the NP to the mother?

Choice A reason: While anxiety may contribute to disturbed sleep, occasional death-related dreams in young children are common and developmentally normal. Immediate evaluation for anxiety is not indicated unless other symptoms are present. Choice B reason: Preschool and early school-age children often incorporate recent events and familiar figures into their dreams, including themes of death. This response normalizes the behavior and reassures the parent that it is age-appropriate. Choice C reason: Early signs of schizophrenia are not typically identified through isolated death-related dreams, especially in a 5-year-old, making this an inappropriate conclusion. Choice D reason: Asking about family mental health history is generally unrelated to interpreting a normal dream experience and may unnecessarily alarm the parent.