Kids love scary films. The trick is finding movies with age-appropriate thrills. Something that terrifies kids at 5 (ghosts, evil characters, major peril) will be a non-issue at 15. Scariness comes from fear of the unknown, from surprise, and from fears about the loss of a loved one. Depending on where your kids are in their emotional development, different things will affect them differently. Young kids are frightened more by creatures that older children know don’t exist. Abrupt noises, eerie sounds, and music create tension in both younger and older children. Psychological suspense, with its threats of impending doom, can terrify your middle-school kids.
Why they matter.
Movies with scary images, intense danger, loud noises, and — above all — blood and gore, can create all sorts of disturbances. Among them are anxiety, sleep disruption, and fears about possible situations. Children younger than 7 can’t easily distinguish between fantasy and reality — even if you tell them "it’s not real." You will know if your kids have become too frightened when they start having sleep problems, irrational fears, and obsessions with things like zombies. Scary and disturbing images and sounds can affect vulnerable kids for years.
Some facts
- The younger kids are when they see a scary movie or TV show, the longer-lasting the effects will be.
- Kids who watch scary material often have nightmares or anxiety.
- Kids ages 2 to 7 often can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality.
Parents check out the Scary movies tip sheet from Common Sense Media
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