Why do we dream and what is the current scientific understanding?

Our brains use dreams to practice and sort out important information, just like you might tidy up your toys after playing.

Dreams are like stories our brain tells us while we're asleep. They help us remember things we learned during the day and forget the ones that aren't as important. It's like when you play with blocks all day, at night, your brain goes through all the different ways you built towers and picks out the best ones to remember.

Your brain is always working, even when you're asleep. It takes everything you saw, heard, and felt during the day and turns it into a kind of movie that plays in your head, this is a dream. Sometimes the movie makes sense, like remembering your favorite game. Other times, it's more like a mix-up of different days, which can make dreams feel silly or strange.

Dreams help your brain stay ready for new things. It’s like practicing for a big race, even if you don’t run every day, your body still gets ready so you can run faster when the time comes. So, while you're sleeping and having fun with your dreams, your brain is getting smarter!