How can parents support a child who saw disturbing horror content and now struggles with sleep? 

Parenting Perspective 

When a child is exposed to horror content online, whether it is a video, an image, or a story, the disturbing imagery can linger in their mind, especially at night. This can heighten their natural imagination, leading to nightmares, a new fear of the dark, or a general difficulty in falling asleep. It is important for parents to respond with both immediate comfort and practical strategies to help their child feel safe again, gradually rebuilding their confidence around bedtime. 

Offer Immediate Comfort 

Take the time to sit with your child at bedtime, patiently listen to their fears, and offer them simple reassurance: ‘What you saw in that video was not real, and it cannot hurt you. You are completely safe here at home.’ This helps them to separate imagination from reality. 

Create a Calming Bedtime Routine 

Introduce peaceful and predictable activities before sleep. This could include reading a gentle story, having a warm drink, or listening to a soft recitation of the Quran together. The goal is to replace the fear-inducing mental images with comforting sounds and routines. 

Adjust Their Sleep Environment 

Simple changes to their bedroom can help to restore a child’s feelings of safety. This might involve using a dim nightlight, placing a familiar and comforting toy on their bed, or leaving their bedroom door slightly ajar. Crucially, ensure all devices are removed from the room before bedtime to prevent any repeated exposure. 

Teach Simple Coping Skills 

If your child wakes up from a nightmare, you can guide them through some simple coping skills. This could be a slow breathing exercise or repeating a simple grounding phrase like, ‘That was just a dream, and I am safe now.’ Over time, learning these techniques will help to reduce their bedtime anxiety. 

By offering consistent reassurance, a predictable structure, and spiritual comfort, parents can help their child to once again see their nights as spaces of rest, not of fear. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches that feelings of fear are best overcome by turning one’s heart towards Allah, especially during the night when a person can feel most vulnerable. The routine of bedtime can be transformed from a moment of anxiety into one of profound peace through the acts of remembrance and supplication. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Ra’ad (13), Verses 28: 

‘…Indeed, it is only with the remembrance of Allah (Almighty) that one can (and does) find peace of mind and heart.’ 

This beautiful verse can be shared with a child to reassure them that mentioning Allah’s name is a direct source of calmness and safety for the heart. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, 3275, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘When you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi, for there will remain with you a guardian from Allah, and no devil will approach you until morning.’ 

This teaching provides a powerful and practical tool for a frightened child. It shows them that reciting specific verses of the Quran before they sleep is a way of inviting Allah’s direct protection from all forms of fear and harm. 

By blending emotional comfort with these spiritual practices, parents can help their child to replace disturbing images with a sense of tranquillity that is rooted in faith. Over time, they will learn that their ultimate protection and peace at night come not from lights or locks, but from the mercy and remembrance of Allah Almighty.