To uninvite kids from halloween party?

[upsideup]

DS(9) is having a Halloween party at the weekend. Its a kids Halloween party so its not going to be inappropriately terrifying but the house will be dark and decorated to be scary.

Our friends are organising the party for ds and have spent lots of time/money making the house look over the top and organising games for the party. Parents of two of the kids have said they are coming but one is scared of the dark so can we make sure there are lights on and the the other can easily have nightmares so doesn't want to be scared. Theres no way we can make sure there are lights on and nothing scary without ruining the halloween party for DS and all the other kids and scraping all the work our friends have put into organising it.

AIBU to say that it will be scary and dark so if they can't cope with that then they probably just shouldn't come?

DS has been inviting to a rock climbing party but he hates heights so I said he wouldn't be able to go, wouldn't dream of suggesting they change the party to not involve heights so DS is able to join in.

YADNBU I had a friend whose ds was scared of so much stuff yet insisted on coming trick or treating every year. We had to avoid houses that were decorated too scarily or cross the street if he saw someone dressed too creepily. It was a real PITA and put a dampener on things. I think you've been given an opportunity here by them talking to you ahead of time. You need to say no.

No to changes I mean. They can have a sanitised version of Halloween at home if they don't like it.

Tough shit, what do they expect, tell them to like it or lump it and not bother coming cause they'll be more hassle than it's worth

It's Halloween the whole point is to be spooky. I would just be straight with the parents, it may be dark and there may be scary things.

Don’t change anything. If you had invited ds1. I would have thanked you and say unfortunately he is busy and arrange for your child to come over to us at a later date and buy ds1 a bag of haribo so he wasn’t too left out.

If this doesn't suit, we will have a television set up in a separate room which will be lit showing Ghostbusters, Monster House and Goosebumps (or Halloween, It and Saw)
@WhatchaMaCalllit would you really let 9yo watch Halloween, It and Saw?! How is that a suitable alternative for kids who are easily scared? I wouldn’t even watch Saw myself!

OP just tell them it will be dimly lit and age-appropriately scary, and you understand if they feel it isn’t suitable for their DC. And beware of them turning up and just dumping their kids for you to sort out.

@SputnikBear - that was tongue in cheek. I wouldn't let a child watch Halloween, It or Saw. I wouldn't watch them. I had read on a different thread earlier the day I posted that someone was getting upset watching a PG movie and should they complain about it. Their child was 10 yrs old. I was, by selecting entirely unsuitable movies, suggesting to the OP that she doesn't alter her plans in any way shape or form for these CF.

Hope that clears up what I was alluding to in my earlier post.

Priceless CF. Don't change a thing. I'd love to hear their response.

Halloween is meant to be spooky. It's like the people who take toddlers out trick n treating & then moan about scary decorations...biting screaming doorbell & shrieking sweets....random limbs & blood...etc ...hey I do have a warning sign on my path "enter only if you dare".

Sputnik I think that was tongue in cheek

Just wondering OP what you ended up doing?