Thread: Why isn't there anything scary for kids?

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When it comes to Halloween-related or "scary" things for kids, none of it is scary. I'm talking about TV, films, books, attractions etc. What made me think about this was when I was taking a trip down memory lane after reading the "favorite Halloween special" thread. I thought about the Halloween specials that channels like Cartoon Network, Nick and Disney air. They're never really scary yet they're hyped up as such. I can understand that no one wants to get in trouble with parents because their child had nightmares but can't these things be a little bit scary at least?

Another thing is stuff like Goosebumps, both the book and the series (as well as The Haunting Hour series). It involves stuff like monsters and stuff but it's not executed in a way that would make a kid think twice about the decisions they make or make them constantly look over their shoulder after watching. In some cases the "monsters" can be replaced by mean step-parents or mean teachers. That's really how kiddy it is.

I'm not asking for kids to be put into a coma, just let them have a few real chills here and there.

Originally Posted by WeirdRob

I'm not asking for kids to be put into a coma, just let them have a few real chills here and there.

Why not? That would suit some perfectly

I agree that most kids' shows for Halloween nowadays are nothing like the ones from years prior. Roseanne and Home Improvement (family viewing, so close enough, I'd like to believe) were the two I looked forward to the most each year, I think. I feel the same, WeirdRob, that it is good to have some actual chills, even for children, not show them that the world is always a happy place filled with bunnies and rainbows; if they are continuously sheltered, that certainly does no good, instead making them scared of their own shadows.

Originally Posted by WeirdRob

I can understand that no one wants to get in trouble with parents because their child had nightmares but can't these things be a little bit scary at least?

Nope, not anymore.

Some speshul widdle snowflayke would watch it, have nightmares, tell mommy & daddy, & then they'd sue the network thus ensuring no cool stuff would shown evar agin!!

I kid of course, but who knows, maybe that's something that could or has already happened.

Also, scary is relative. As a kid I found Scooby Doo scary. Now when I watch the old Scooby Doo, not that new travesty they're calling Scooby Doo, I wonder how I watched it because not only was it horribly written, it's just not that scary.

Some parents must have really been tired of washing their kids bed sheets... I remember I was scared of Mister Rodgers just because he just looked like an evil doer! Wasn't even relative to anything scary... LOL!

I am pretty much with what you said, although I do be mindful of letting my son see some scary movie type. There are some, where my mother and I would sit down with him and watch certain types to explain how they did the make, or why and such.

I agree that many, if not most, kids can get scared VERY easily. I mean you're talking about an age group that screams with fear when asked to sit on Santa's lap in the mall, and he's not even trying to be scary, LOL. (Although he kinda scares me too...that weirdly red nose, the beard down to his belt, the roaring-loud laughter...)

Hmmm... I think a lot of kids end up watching the same movies as their parents and older siblings anymore. The kid of a lady I work with likes to watch Halloween and Freddy Kruger and he is only 8. I guess it's up to the parents to decide if the kiddy halloween movies are enough or if their kids are allowed to go for the good stuff

Most of them have very "Cranked-Up" imaginations compared to older teens or adults, so it's kind of like walking through a mine field, you never really know for sure how they are mentally processing stimulus...til later or it's too late to wipe away the bad .
We get this phone call all the time when a Parent thinks they know the bravery level of their child whether the child is 5 or 15.
"My child won't be afraid of your haunt because they can sit by the hours watching Freddy, Jason, Those 13th movies, and they never bat an eye or anything, you won't be able to scare them."
Then they arrive at my door, buy their tickets, it's probably a beautiful sunny Sunday, I open the front door and "WHAAAA!" they jerk! Jump! Runaway, cower behind the adult, turn their eyes away, begin pleading to not go in!
This is why we give them a promising "Talk" before opening the door now. I like people to have fun here not be listed on their nightmare list.
Ravens Grin-Mount Carroll, ill hauntedravensgrin.com

Once inside and everything is OK, we set the child up in the very first room so they can scare the rest of their own family! This works! Now that child is "HAPPY!"

As a kid I was permitted to watch whatever I wanted. I remember having nightmares about Freddy but I turned out just fine. I do think kids should be censored but I think that's up to the parents to decide. For the record the Disney channel scares the heck out of me.

[QUOTE=Garthgoyle;1058736]Why not? That would suit some perfectly

I agree that most kids' shows for Halloween nowadays are nothing like the ones from years prior. Roseanne and Home Improvement (family viewing, so close enough, I'd like to believe) were the two I looked forward to the most each year, I think. [QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more. Roseanne was, hands down, the best show of the late 80's/90's, especially for Halloween. Most stuff on TV these days is complete crap. Even the stuff that is airing on 'family' networks, raises my eyebrow. And don't even get me going about MTV. It is suppose to be 'music' television...is it not? But that's kinda off topic
I don't have any kids yet, but when I do, I fully intend on showing them shows and movies from my generation. Yes even horror movies. Age appropriate of course. If the movie has a mild sex scene in it, then I'll simply fast forward that part. It's simply up to the parents to teach their children what is real and what is not. Nothing wrong with giving your kid a good scare every now and then. Hell, my dad and grandpa made it a habit of putting on this particular mask and scaring the crap outta me. I turned out just fine......I'm just obsessed with Halloween now