How to Get Little Kids to Go to Sleep After a Scary Movie

Kids are generally curious and it isn't long before they start begging their parents to watch scary movies. According to Common Sense Media, kids between the ages of 2 and 7 aren't able to tell the difference between fantasy and reality. In addition, the younger a child is when she views scary images on television, the longer she will suffer the effects of those images. If your child saw a scary movie at a friend's house, or put one on when you weren't looking, you may have trouble getting her to sleep afterward.

Things You'll Need

  • Glow-in-the-dark objects
  • Flashlight
  • Nightlight
  • Book

Instructions

    • 1

      Talk about the scary movie. Your child may not understand that certain characters, like ghosts and monsters, are not real. Reassure your child that what happened on television is just a story that someone made up and that she is in no danger.

    • 2

      Comfort your child with a warm hug. This is just a small reminder to your child that you are near and that you won't let anything happen to her.

    • 3

      Play in the dark. Most of the time it isn't going to bed that brings out the fear in kids, it is the fact that it is so dark outside and in their bedrooms. Playing in the dark makes the dark less scary and more fun. The National Sleep Foundation suggests hunting for glow-in-the-dark objects or playing a game of flashlight tag.

    • 4

      Install a nightlight. Nightlights provide enough light for a child to see around the bedroom, but not so much light that it keeps him awake.

    • 5

      Read your child a peaceful bedtime story. The bedtime story will get your child's mind off of the scary movie she just watched and onto the story that is taking place in the book.

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