to think places have gone too far with Halloween themed ‘fun’ for children.

[MapleTreees]

It’s half term for us and all the local attractions seem to be Halloween themed. My kids (aged 10&7) are very sensitive and hate anything scary. One is particularly scared of skeletons but cartoony ones might just be OK.
So we went out yesterday, not realising an industrial museum might be Halloween themed and they were just terrified. I walked round and could feel my daughter jump whenever there was a new surprise.
It wasn’t just cartoony fun, there were headless zombies etc.

Have places forgotten that children are children and not all like quite graphic horror? I don’t think the thought of showing such things to young kids a couple of decades ago would have been considered OK?

We had to abandon the visit as they would only look at the ground and were just hating it.

AIBU to think this is too much for a child themed event or do I need to toughen my kids up?

Is an industrial museum really aimed at young kids?

Agree - it’s horrible and totally inappropriate for kids. They can’t just chuck scary stuff in to family attractions! Hate it - going very American with the horror stuff and it’s awful for little ones.

It isn't ideal, my son wouldn't have liked it when he was younger.

There is a house nearby who has amongst other things, child- sized 'bodies' wrapped and taped up in bin bags lying on the grass outside. It is opposite a primary school so lots of kids walking up and down past it.

I agree with this actually. Mine are teen / preteen now and pretty robust but they were definitely disturbed by things like this when they were little.

I also don't like the link to murder/death/horror. I remember trying to explain ghosts etc to my small kids in a not-too-scary way (and if course saying it's not real) and they were okay with that. Then one house nearby had a door covered with bloody hand prints. My small kids asked why they had that for Halloween and I just didn't know how to explain that it represents someone being brutally murdered!!

I agree op. Slasher and gore references should not be a default at family friendly attractions.

I think you should just write and give them some constructive ‘feedback’. It’s probably been put together half heartedly by someone just asked to buy a whole load of props from Amazon and who hasn’t thought further than the end of their nose about it.

This happened to us! we went to a castle and in nearly every room there were creepy decorations, skeletons on the bed, things hanging from the ceilings, a room with sounds and flashing lights...it was just super strange, it wasn't advertised as a Halloween tour (I can imagine for the right audience it could've been cool) but like....it's half term, the kids just wanted to look at a castle?

Totally agree. We always go on a quaint little pumpkin trail in a nearby village but one year there was a house with a full sized IT, Texas Chainsaw man and blood covered Friday 13th guy in their front garden. It’s too scary and it goes against the original meaning of Samhain.

We went to a children's farm one half term and it was full of horrible, gory decorations, some that made startling noises and staff were all covered in bloody, gory costumes. My children were terrified. I hate Halloween!

Fucking hell, that is deeply disturbing.

I thought Halloween was more leaning towards autumn rituals and supernatural themes, rather than serial killers and sociopathic murderers on the loose. It's a complete deviation from what it actually is.

Also says quite a lot about the people putting them up.

Our butcher dresses the big butcher statue thing outside the shop with a Scream mask and blood on his cleaver, that was fun the first time DDs went past it! Now they’re just like ‘Oh he’s got his mask on again’.

Mine aren’t overly sensitive about stuff like this but we have been to a few ‘family’ Halloween events with friends where their children have spent most of the time terrified, hiding eyes, having to be carried past parts. And not even 3yos but 6/7/8yos. So I would agree with you.

Both our school and nursery forbid any scary masks from being worn around Halloween at parties/discos etc.

Good point. My two aren't bothered but I definitely would have been as a child. I remember seeing a dragon kite in a shop when I was little and being petrified, let alone all this really gruesome stuff. My decorations outside are very tame - I hadn't thought of it from that point of view but glad they are on the cuter side of things after reading this thread.

YANBU. I have a 2yo and a 4yo, and this year I'm very aware of my 4yo in particular and what she is seeing (a lot of it still goes over my 2yo's head)

Some of the stuff is just ridiculous and OTT. And I say that as someone who loves horror movies!

I think if it was just confined to Halloween weekend itself or something it would be easier to manage,and you could prepare kids for it before heading out trick or treating etc. But houses around us have been decorated for weeks! You never know what you're going to come across!

I do agree some places and some people seem to have gone a bit too far, like they have allowed adults to decorate in a way that would appeal to other adults who like horror while failing to realise they are trying to attract family customers!

I do get why so many places are doing “spooky fun” this year though, cost of living etc, this half term may be the one big boost for many places until they can put on Christmas trails/events. I’m hearing less and less of people doing paid for activities on weekends so half term may be the big income boost.

YANBU. It's a complete pita as DD is not a fan of costumes and anything creepy, she doesn't want to go trick or treating and her birthday is Halloween. Trying to find something she can do for her birthday without being scared is a full time job.

All this Halloween nonsense is a massive money making merry go round.
An American import that’s taken off over here.
No money to be made from bonfire night so Halloween it is!

I don’t mind a few cartoony Halloween things. I’m really not into it at all but my kids like it in an age appropriate way. There is no need to make it actually scary at places designed for all ages. Anyone jumping out at me would have me in tears (I know after unexpectedly having Darth Vader appear behind DH), let alone my children. I think all three of mine would hate it and our eldest is nearly 13.

Can easily fit the theme with some pumpkins.

Absolutely not, I love it. Halloween is my favourite holiday and was as a child. It’s also a very close tie with Christmas for my kids. If we are forced to put up with 3 months of Christmas music and events everywhere, a week of Halloween is perfectly acceptable for the kids who love it (and me!).

That said, I’ve seen nothing scary (I don’t like scary, don’t do haunted house rides, don’t watch horror films). It’s all spiders and pumpkins and witches treasure trails around here. Only scary events are in the evening and clearly marketed to teens and adults. You wouldn’t accidentally end up at one with your toddler.

I agree with you but some adults don't have a clue as to the difference in age appropriateness of their themes or actions. We live in a big trick or treat area, the place is like ET on Halloween night and lots of students as well going to parties etc. One time a young adult opened the door for trick or treating and then as my young DC about 5 at the time went to take a sweet he suddenly pushed out of his sleeve a plastic, blooded hand with fingers missing, DC jumped out of their skin and was terrified!

I agree. Far too much for some children.

This is completely spot on.

There's an old stately home near us that is doing ghost tours for children this half term but TBF you do have to be over 13 to go in the evening without an adult accompanying you, that would probably appeal to lots of teenagers.

But it only makes money because people buy into it. If everyone treated it as "nonsense" there'd be no money to be made.

Totally agree. Mine have always loved Halloween and were totally unimpressed with the cutesy stuff. My now 11 year old is convinced we need to put on our own event because there’s nothing suitable for people who like proper creepy in our area, you have to travel

It originated in Scotland and Ireland so hardly an American import.