What do I say if they pick up bad slang from YouTube videos? 

Parenting Perspective 

It can be frustrating and worrying when your child starts repeating inappropriate slang they have picked up from YouTube videos. To a child, this language often sounds trendy or funny, but it can also carry disrespectful or crude meanings. If left unaddressed, these words can easily slip into their everyday speech, lowering the standard of conversation at home and in public. Your role is to correct this firmly, help your child understand why their choice of words matters, and offer them better alternatives. 

Why Children Copy Slang 

Understanding the motivation behind this mimicry allows you to respond with patient guidance rather than just frustration. Children often copy slang because: 

• They want to sound “cool,” modern, or fit in with current trends. 

• The slang words are presented as funny or entertaining in the videos they watch. 

• They enjoy the strong reaction positive or negative that these words provoke. 

Set a Clear Standard on Speech 

Calmly explain that not every word heard online is acceptable for use in your family. 

‘That word might be used in the video, but in our home, we speak with respect. We do not use slang that lowers our manners.’ 

This sets a clear and consistent family value that their language should always reflect respect. 

Explain Why Words Matter 

Discuss the power of speech, connecting the words they choose to their character and reputation. 

‘The words you use are a reflection of your character. People will respect you more when you speak clearly and well, whereas slang can make you sound careless.’ 

This helps to build their awareness that speech has real-life consequences. 

Offer Alternatives 

If your child enjoys using playful or trendy words, encourage them to create their own silly but harmless expressions. This allows them to be creative and have fun with language without resorting to slang that degrades their speech. This gives them a positive replacement instead of just a restriction. 

Reinforce Respectful Language 

When your child chooses to speak politely and articulately instead of using slang, praise them for it. 

‘I really liked how you explained that so clearly and politely that shows real maturity.’ 

Positive reinforcement makes respectful language feel far more rewarding than a temporary trend. By combining clarity with encouragement, you can show your child that their words are a reflection of who they are. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam teaches us to guard our tongues with great care. Our words have the power to either elevate or diminish us, and children must be taught that their speech is a direct reflection of their faith and manners (adab). 

Every single word we utter is recorded and will be presented on the Day of Judgement. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Qaaf (50), Verse 18: 

‘(Man) is unable to utter a single word, without him being closely observed (and all actions being recorded), who is always present.‘ 

This verse is a profound reminder of the accountability we have for our speech. Teaching children this concept helps them to become mindful that even words said casually are of great significance. 

A word spoken carelessly can have severe and lasting consequences. 

It is recorded in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 6477, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘A servant may utter a word without giving it any importance, yet because of it he will fall into the Hellfire further than the distance between the east and the west.’ 

This powerful hadith teaches that there is no such thing as a “harmless” bad word. Every word has weight. By guiding your child to avoid inappropriate slang and to choose words of dignity, you are not only shaping their manners but also protecting their heart and their faith. They learn that their tongue is a trust (amanah), and that respectful speech is part of their identity as a believer.