Here at HorrorBuzz we believe that there is no set age for horror. What might terrify one child at age 8 may delight another child of age 5.  We DO believe that there is something for everyone, be it spooky or silly, or scary and gory. However, there are right and wrong ways to introduce your kids to the world of Halloween fun. The question is; How do you responsibly introduce your kids to scary things without scarring them for life and having to pay out thousands of dollars in therapy later?

We combed the haunt world for someone who could talk to us, on a weekly basis about being a great parent to kids who are interested in Halloween fun and spooky offerings. Then, in the middle of a mystical pumpkin patch, we found the loveliest, scariest, most motherly person of all.  We introduce to you, Mommy FEARist.

An experienced performer at Knott’s Scary Farm and a professional dancer by trade, Mommy FEARist has two children, ages 4 and two, that she has raised around the haunt world.  While having fun and keeping things exciting and safe, she has also been able to balance the task of parenting, with that of allowing her kids to explore spooky entertainment. Mommy FEARist also has endless ideas for crafts, games, and inexpensive, do-it-yourself costumes as we get closer to Halloween.

Today we explore our very first topic on the matter.  You may want to jump headlong into horror and just take your kids along to an R-rated slasher pic or to this years HHN, but frankly, they might not be ready for that at the moment.  How do you know HOW to do it?  Mommy Fearist offers these 5 helpful tips.

Please welcome Mommy FEARist

5 things to consider when introducing your child to the world of scary

1. Is she/he ready for it?

Sure, you like horror movies. You live for Halloween season and haunted events. But have you prepared your little darling to the world of jump scares, crazy makeup and masks and the little things that go bump in the night? Realize that children see and understand the here and now. The visceral emotion of all things scary resonate differently with kids. Some are ok with spooky, ghost stories and some are ok with loud chainsaws and gore. Do you know what your child’s limits are?

2. Are you ready for it?

Are you prepared for explaining about the world of make believe? And if you are, are you ready for a sleepless night or two (or more) when your child is scared of Freddy Krueger popping out of the living room tv right into their dreams? Or when they get an uneasy feeling of some ghost in their room after watching Goosebumps? You had better have a darn good explanation to why they don’t have to be afraid. And even that won’t work. Know your kids boundaries.

3. Introduce them to costumes, makeup and masks beyond Halloween!

We are a con family. We dress up throughout the year for conventions and our kids love it. As soon as they could walk, they could stop for pictures and pose for cameras at a convention. It’s easy for kids to know what is make- believe when they get to dress up and are encouraged to explore creativity through costume and makeup.

4. Separate reality from fantasy.

Yes, we get to dress up on occasion. Yes, we get to watch some scary movies. And yes, we go to haunted houses. But we also realize that if something is scaring our kids beyond what is fun, then we stop and go back home. We don’t berate them about being weak or a scaredy cat. If your kid is screaming and is terrified to go into a haunted house then don’t make him/her go. It’s not fun for anyone involved-kids, parents or the people running the haunted event. As a parent your job is to protect your child from harm. If you see that your child is becoming seriously upset, take your child away from the event and talk to him/her. Explain that it is all make believe and that maybe this isn’t the time for them to experience it. That’s totally ok. I hated scary stuff when I was a kid but now I love it. All is not lost when you have to carry a crying child out of somewhere. It’s normal. My own boy is terrified of flowers and plants. No kidding, Taking him to the arboretum is the equivalent of letting him have a sit down with Linda Blair in the Exorcist. Where did I go wrong? I don’t know, I just keep him away from flower arrangements and other flora as best I can.

5. Be prepared.

Oh yes, be prepared to spend the same amount for your little 3 month old baby still in a Moby wrap to pay the same amount as the thirty year old man next to you. Be prepared for other people to judge you. (That goes along with everything in parenting) Other people will say that you are sure to end up with a kid that needs extensive therapy. Yes, my kids will need therapy but not due to any haunted event I’ve taken them to. Personally, I think Caillou is much more damaging than any jump scare my kids have shrieked about.

Be prepared to watch through the eyes of a child again. To experience the apprehensiveness when they hear a haunting note of a pipe organ. To hold their hand tight when they are nervous; for them to rely on your grip as a safe hold in the world.

Be prepared for a great bond. For laughter. For tears. And be prepared for them to scare the ever living daylights out of you when you least expect it. Because they will…

Erin Jefferson-Foley (Mommy FEARist) is terrified of scary movies, gore and zombies. But she loves all things Halloween and Haunt related! Slowly but surely she has been dipping her toes into the realm of horror movies with great results. Pretty soon she will work her way up to watching a scary movie when it is dark outside. Erin has had a love affair with theme park Halloween events for the past 20 years. Her first time at an event was at Knott’s Scary Farm in the late 80s when a family friend, a Knott’s employee, escorted her into the park to watch Elvira and give her a behind the scenes tour. She was intrigued as she walked through the break room and realized that they were just people in masks and makeup. It seemed like only a short time later, Erin was performing for Halloween Haunt which led to her meeting the love of her life, her husband. Each year she cheers on her husband and his friends as they set up and run a home haunt. You can catch her helping with line control and repeating the same instructions over and over and over to the guests each night. She has been a professional dancer and actress for over 20 years. When she is not in the studio teaching dance or in her office writing, you can catch Mommy Fearest with her husband and two kids at various conventions throughout California. She enjoys Cosplay, Star Wars, Renaissance Faires, Halloween, haunted attractions, paranormal happenings, special effects makeup and horrible reality television shows.