Songs for Kids Who Are Afraid of the Dark

The lights go off, the room gets quiet, and suddenly the closet looks a little strange. Almost every child goes through a time when they are afraid of the dark. It often starts around age two or three, when their imagination starts to grow faster than their words. A shadow on the wall can turn into a monster in their mind.

The good news is that this fear is normal, and it usually fades with time. Until it does, a calm song can help a lot. Music gives a scared child something to hold onto. It fills the quiet room, and it tells them the same safe message every night. Below are Leigha Marina songs made for this exact moment, sorted by the kind of worry your child has.

When the Dark Itself Feels Scary

Afraid Of The Dark

This is the song to start with. It says out loud what your child is feeling: "When the lights turn off, we don't like to watch, cause we don't know what's going on." Then it gives them a simple idea to remember. Everything in the room is the same as when the light is on. The toys are the same. The bed is the same. Nothing moved.

There is also a sweet line that says all the lights in the house need sleep, just like us. Kids like that. The light isn't gone. It's just resting.

Try this: After the song, turn the light on and off a few times together. Look around each time and say "Same room!" Then try making shadow puppets on the wall with a flashlight, just like the song says.

Hi There Moon Lullaby

Some kids think of night as a big empty dark. This lullaby shows them that night has friends too. A sleepy little penguin dreams of flying up to say hi to the moon and the stars. The moon's soft light makes him feel "safe and sound." It turns the night sky into something to look forward to.

Try this: Before bed, look out the window and find the moon. Say "Hi there, moon" together. If it's cloudy, say hi to the stars that are hiding.

When Your Child Thinks There Is a Monster

Monster Go Away

A little penguin sees a shadow and thinks a monster is in his room. He sings "Monster, monster, go away!" He thinks the monster hides in the closet, under the bed, behind the curtains and in the toy chest. But at the end of the song, something funny happens. The monster just wants a friend to play with. So the penguin changes his song to "Monster, monster, stay today!"

This one is upbeat, so play it earlier in the evening, not right at lights out. It helps kids laugh at the thing that scares them, and laughing makes a monster much smaller.

Try this: Ask your child to draw the monster they think about. Then ask them to give it a silly hat or a funny name. A monster named Mr. Fluffy is not very scary.

When Your Child Wakes Up From a Bad Dream

It's Just a Bad Dream

Bebo wakes up in the night after a dream about ugly monsters. He doesn't want to go back to sleep. Mommy Penguin comes in and sings to him. "It's just a bad dream. They can not hurt you. It's just imagination." She reminds him that when we wake up, the bad dream goes away, and he is cozy in bed with his teddy bear.

Many kids don't know yet that dreams are not real. This song explains it in words a little one can understand. The line "Nothing can hurt you when we are together" is a good one for parents to say too, even without the music.

Try this: In the morning, not at night, talk about the bad dream. Ask your child to tell it with a happy ending. Maybe the monster slips on a banana peel.

If your child wakes up screaming but doesn't seem to know you are there, that may be a night terror and not a nightmare. We explain the difference in our post on nightmares vs. night terrors.

When Your Child Doesn't Want to Be Alone

My Stuffie Lullaby

Sometimes the fear isn't about the dark. It's about being alone when a parent leaves the room. In this lullaby, Bebo holds his teddy bear close as he falls asleep. The song says "Take my stuffie wherever you go, you'll never be alone." It helps kids see their favorite stuffed animal as a little piece of mom or dad that stays with them all night.

Try this: Give the stuffie a big hug before you leave the room and say "I put a hug inside. It's there all night."

Stars Will Guard You Lullaby

A mother penguin tucks her little one into bed under the moon. The song says "Sleep now, close your eyes so tight. Stars will guard you through the night." Kids who worry about being alone like the idea that someone is watching over them while they sleep. It's slow and soft, so it is a great last song of the night.

When Your Child Just Can't Fall Asleep

Trouble Sleeping Tonight Lullaby

Bebo can't sleep. His mind is busy. So Mommy Penguin helps him think about something nice instead, like a wonderful bowl of ice cream. It's a small trick that really works for kids. When their head is full of scary thoughts, give it a happy thought to replace them.

Try this: Ask "What do you want to dream about tonight?" Let them pick. Ice cream, a trip to the beach, flying with penguins. Anything happy works.

A Daytime Song for Feeling Brave

Be Brave

Being brave at night is easier when you practice during the day. This upbeat song says "It's ok to be afraid, we all feel the same some days. Just don't let it win again." It's about all kinds of fears, like trying something new or making friends at school. Sing it in the car or at playtime so the words are ready when bedtime comes.

A Simple Bedtime Plan for Scared Kids

1. Early evening: Play Monster Go Away or Be Brave. These are the fun, upbeat ones.
2. After bath and pajamas: Sing Afraid Of The Dark and do the light on, light off game.
3. In bed: Give the stuffie a hug and play My Stuffie Lullaby.
4. Lights out: End with Stars Will Guard You Lullaby or Hi There Moon Lullaby, nice and quiet.
5. If they wake up scared: Go in, stay calm and sing a few lines of It's Just a Bad Dream.

A small night light, a cracked door or a hallway light can help too. There is nothing wrong with that. The goal is for your child to feel safe, not to be tough.

You can find all of our bedtime lullabies and kids songs, with videos and full lyrics, on our music page. They are also on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music, so you can play them on a speaker with no screen at bedtime.

Questions Parents Ask

At what age are kids afraid of the dark?

Many kids start to feel afraid of the dark around age two or three. This is when their imagination starts to grow. For most kids, the fear gets smaller as they get older and learn what is real and what is pretend.

Should I tell my child monsters aren't real?

Yes, but say it in a calm and kind way. Don't laugh at the fear. It feels very real to them. Songs like Monster Go Away help because they let kids laugh at the monster on their own.

Is it okay to play music while my child falls asleep?

Yes. Many families play soft music at bedtime. Try to use music only, with no video. The light from a screen can make it harder for kids to fall asleep.

When should I talk to a doctor about fear of the dark?

If the fear is so strong that your child can't sleep most nights, or it stops them from doing normal things during the day, talk to your child's doctor. For most kids, though, a little comfort, a routine and time are all they need.

Tonight, pick one song, one stuffie and one happy thought to dream about. Bebo and the penguin family will be right there with you.