Why Children See Ghosts—and Adults Don’t

Have we been conditioned?

Children often report seeing ghosts, spirits, or unexplained figures—images that adults typically dismiss as imagined. But what if it’s not imagination? What children are attuned to something real—something we, as adults, have been told to block out?

In this post, I’ll  explore real ghost sightings by children, famous paranormal cases involving kids, the brain science behind it, and why adults rarely see spirits anymore. I’ll also share my own experience with the unexplained.

My Childhood Encounter with a Ghost

When I was in my tweens, I awoke at 3am and saw what appeared to be a man in his forties standing in my living room. He was silent, gawking at me. The only problem, he was not really there? Or was he? This experience opened the door to a lifetime of curiosity about the paranormal but more importantly childhood ghost sightings.Because as I got older these things seemed to get weaker, not stronger. I am sharing that story for free HERE on this blog as a Novella in progress. Feel free to read that as well.

Real Signs That Kids Might Be Experiencing the Paranormal

Children often exhibit unusual behaviors that hint at a paranormal presence. Have you ever heard a story about children talking to unseen people or “imaginary” friends, or very young children refusing to enter specific rooms or locations. Perhaps you’ve had a child describing objects moving on their own or reporting “bad dreams” with precise details. These aren’t just quirks—they might be early indicators of ghost activity.

Famous Paranormal Cases Involving Children

 The Wesley Family (1716 – England)

At the Epworth Rectory, the Wesley children (including John Wesley, the future founder of Methodism) experienced eight weeks of paranormal chaos. They heard footsteps, horns, and furniture dragging across the floor—phenomena all blamed on the ghost “Old Jeffrey.” This is one of the earliest recorded history of children speaking to ghosts. Sadly, once the father of the household found out about such “Stories” he adamantly refused for the children to talk about it, hence the story ended with his wishes.

The Watseka Wonder (1877 – Illinois)

Lurancy Vennum, age 14, claimed to know the names and details of people who had passed. It was recorded that she had no way of learning such information, making the Watseka story one of the most documented child possession cases in U.S. history.

The Enfield Poltergeist (1977 – London)

Sisters Janet and Margaret Hodgson witnessed disembodied voices, levitating furniture, and violent disturbances. The Enfield case drew media attention, paranormal investigators, and even law enforcement.

Celebrities Who Saw Ghosts as Children

• Kate Hudson once said, “I see dead people all the time.” Her childhood included regular sightings, including a faceless woman.
  
• Keanu Reeves described seeing a ghost in a white suit silently drift across his room in childhood.
  

Ariana Grande experienced shadow figures, whispering voices, and unexplained sulfur smells at a haunted site.

4 REASONS Why Children Are More Likely to See Ghosts

 Underdeveloped Prefrontal Cortex

The prefrontal cortex is used for logical thought. This is underdeveloped in children. Children rely more on emotion and intuition than logic, making them more receptive to energies and entities that adults may tune out.

No Learned Skepticism

Children haven’t yet been conditioned to believe that ghosts are “Nonexistnet”. As young children many parents actually accept the “imaginary friend”  as a wildly developed imagination, and not an actual example of psychic ability.

Theta Brainwave Dominance

Kids operate in theta brainwaves, which as mentioned above, is linked to dreaming and  intuition, and as many feel are “psychic acceptance”.  As we mature this, we move to more Alpha brainwaves which deal with “logic” and “inference”.

Fewer Distractions

With less stress in their lives, children may be more focused on unseen changes in their environment. Visions are interpreted as creativity and play takes precedence in daily activity.

Why Adults Stop Seeing Spirits

As we age, we are conditioned to ignore the unseen. And sadly, even become skeptical or distasteful to anything that can not be scientifically explained. It’s not that most adults stop sensing ghosts—they simply stop noticing them.

Final Thoughts: Relearning to See the Unseen

If children can experience the supernatural because they’re open, maybe we can retrain ourselves to do the same. I feel, our sixth sense isn’t lost, it’s just socially cast aside. 

Do you or your children have any experience with the paranormal? If so, I’d love to hear. Please comment below and subscribe!

For an Audio version of this article please visit me on The Eye Opener Society HERE.

You may be haunted and waiting as well.