What is Too Scary for Children During Halloween?

As Halloween approaches, many parents of young

children look for understanding around what might

be too scary for children at different ages. While every

child is different, parents and caregivers can pay close

attention to what things their child is very worried

about, avoids, or talks about. This can give clues that

something might be too scary. Parents are often

surprised by what frightens their child.

One mother I know, talked about her son Tyler, who's 13 years old now. When he

was 2, she recounted a situation where he was frightened by a life-size sculpture

of a bear at the zoo. She explained that they were walking around a corner on a

trail and there it was ... the giant bear sculpture! Tyler immediately stiffed up and

was visibly scared. It was clear he wanted to get out of there as fast as he could.

Over the next few weeks, both mom and dad noticed that he avoided books with

bears and when reading his favorite animal book, he skipped over B for Bear.

Halloween has become more of an adult holiday (which was not at all true a

few generations ago). More and more we are seeing adults and teenagers

dressing up as figures from horror movies and going to the extremes to scare

others.

As parents and caregivers, it is important that violent, bloody and generally

horrific images are not exposed to young children. Not just because they are "too

scary" but because they do not represent the values or images that we want our

children to be exposed to.

Pretend play is children's main way of making sense of their world. Through play,

children can master fears and difficult experiences by reinventing them in a playful

way. Halloween is another opportunity for children to engage in well-supported

pretend play but it also has the potential to scare children and can be counter to

supporting children's development.

Here are a few considerations to make:

1. Consider your child's age when selecting costumes for yourself and your child.

2. Plan ahead for activities that are within your child's development. A trip to the

haunted maze might not be appropriate for a 4 year old.

3. Plan ahead for sensory stimuli. Children are easy startled by loud noises and

sudden movements.

4. If you question whether your child should go to a Halloween event, don't go.

5. Familiarize new experiences gradually and allow your child to explore at their

own pace.

Recognizing what is too scary for children at different developmental stages is

essential in helping them navigate their fears. Each age group requires tailored

approaches to address and understand fear constructively. By fostering open

dialogue and providing age-appropriate content, parents and caregivers can help

children build resilience and confidence, empowering them to face their fears with

courage.