The Family That Spooks Together...
When I was three years old, I had almost as much trouble sleeping as I do now. My mom’s favorite trick to help me sleep was to turn on movies for me to fall asleep to. These movies included Jaws, Child’s Play, House on Haunted Hill (the one with Vincent Price, of course) and other such horror films. Now, there's a lot of people who would say that watching films like that at such a young age is harmful or inappropriate or some other such opinionated criticism. I’ve grown up to be a healthy person with an appreciation for the genre, and an understanding of cinema magic. But if your kids are the type that need a much lighter introduction to horror, then here’s some that pass as ‘horror’ without necessarily claiming the official spook-factor of the genre.
Some of the most child friendly intros to horror are actually unrated as TV movies, but the benefit is that they aren’t exclusively for children. Your parent being uninterested in a film can make family movie night pretty dull, so those whose kids need a lighter start should take a look at the movies they’d love too. An ageless classic you can turn to is the cartoon The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad which tells a dual story of both the classic Headless Horseman tale, and the lighthearted lessons of Mr. Toad. You also can get a decent selection in most Scooby-Doo departments, but specifically I recommend Scooby-Doo & the Witch’s Ghost. Especially for the parents out there who remember their goth kid days, or still enjoy them, because you’ll love the Hex Girls band that is included in this treasure. Speaking of treasures, you also will find an underrated one in your first viewing of Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. Many kids can find the physical manifestation of ‘Nightmare’ as a terrifying film subject to encounter, but the story and its imagery gives a fantastical wrapping to any spooky subjects.
One trick that also can help, if you feel like your kid can take things so long as it’s a slow burn, is reminding them that a movie is just ‘magic’. I’m a big fan of showing my kids a film like Don’t Look Under the Bed, a Disney Channel original that was rated PG, and reminding them of the makeup they used to create the Boogeyman. Rather than spoil any fantasy put into movies, it can ease the fears while at the same time showing off what can be done with imagination & makeup.
Another tool for this trick is the childhood terror that is The Witches, based on the children’s tale by Roald Dahl. Some of the scenes such as the Witches’ transformations can be scary for little ones, but also the story is about a child hero which helps motivate kids to see the end. Although a large part of the story circles the tragic death of a child, the film When Good Ghouls Go Bad is much more lighthearted than it sounds. Now these films aren’t ones you can put on and walk away, but they are ones that the whole family can enjoy without needing to hide under a blanket come bedtime.
Ultimately, you’re the only one who knows when your kid is ready to investigate some good old fashioned PG-13 spook fests. When they’re ready to tackle The Monster Squad or indulge in a little comedic horror with Attack of The Killer Tomatoes, then you can scroll Shudder and Netflix a little more freely. But until those days come, then feel free to use the films in this article as a starting point. Also, never overlook movies that have even a small hint of scare in order to start gauging your children’s taste for it. The Pagemaster may only include a singular segment of horror, but that can be enough to see if your kid is ready to start enjoying some spooky Saturday movie nights. Because the family that spooks together, stays together.
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