Scary Costume

I would not expect an adult that doesn't have kids to think about this kind of thing.

I'd say it's my responsibility to talk to my kid about scary costumes and that they're not real. I talk to him about movies, special effects and makeup and such anyway so he can learn what's real and what's created.

Taking down my previous answer as I read your question incorrectly-- if an event isn't *for* kids but people bring their kids-- then the responsibility lies with the parent to be thoughtful about what their kids can handle. Just like if a person took their kids to movie that wasn't patently "G" rated.

Until I had kids...especially one that is very sensitive to the very scary costumes and props that come out around Halloween. I never thought much about how scary my costume was or wasn't...to me the scarier the better.

Now that I have a child who cannot watch tv with commercials from October through the middle of November because the commercials for local haunted houses and events scare him to pieces (and he ends up in bed with us almost every night)...I am very aware of dressing too scary for little kids.

That being said I feel that it is more my responsibility to only take my children to events that I know are going to be in their comfort level...the zoo and local botanical gardens have very kid friendly Halloween activities. The local theme parks and other local Halloween events end up being way beyond my child's comfort zone. We even have certain houses in our neighborhood we avoid because they go way over the top and are very very scary.

I am just careful where I take my kids. Usually where adults are not wearing costumes.

No, I don't, just as I don't consider it rude for someone to decorate their home in a scarier, more gruesome manner. Halloween is a time for everyone, young and old, and the theme of Halloween runs the gamut from gory to cute. If you're taking your child to Halloween events or out trick-or-treating, then it's your responsibility to talk to, guide, and even redirect their attention if needed from the more bloody displays of Halloween.

To me, this is like asking if it's rude for Christians to put of religious Christmas decorations or, conversely, for people to celebrate with the non-religious symbols of the season.

Depending on the costume, sometimes it can be made scarier by actions.

My husband dresses up in full pirate regalia for Halloween, a costume he put together over the years from various Renaissance faires. We only have one Trick or Treat event, on Sunday afternoons around the holiday, so we get all ages throughout the event.

When the older kids come up to the house, he comes out brandishing his sword, & menacing, they love it!!

But for the little ones, he walks up to them and asks if they've seen his parrot flying around. And lets them touch his cloak, etc. so they aren't scared.

If you happen to be near a small/young child who seems very unsure of your costume, find a way to "normalize" it for them, either taking off the mask as you approach them & asking if they want to see it before you put it back on, so they know you are a person & not a monster, or finding a "lighter side" of the character to engage in with them.

Happy Halloween! T.

No. It's Halloween - people are supposed to dress in scary costumes!

No, but I would absolutely keep my distance from little kids on the street. I also wouldn't go out as early as the littlest ones who go out before dark. If it were a kid-centered event (like our town sponsors a pre-Halloween party so kids can stay off the streets and stay away from candy if that's what the parents want), I wouldn't wear a super scary costume to that.

But if parents are taking their kids to a place like "Spooky World" or those haunted houses, or an adult-frequented event or even the Halloween super stores with the displays and smoke effects, then it's on the parents to shield kids or prep them sufficiently.

Halloween costumes should be scary! I think it would be up to the parent to keep children away from H'ween activities if the children are frightened by costumes.

I wouldn't particularly want to see a scary costume at a Halloween event at Disneyland or LEGOLAND for instance. But overall there is no problem with a scary costume at Halloween events unless they are specifically aimed and marketed at the younger crowd and dubbed Not-so-scary or something along those lines.
With that said, there is no reason to go intentionally harassing kids unless they are willing participants. I've seen jerks intentionally single out kids that are obviously not interested in being tormented. That, in my opinion, does not fall to the parent to not take them or teach them it's all pretend. That's on the person in the costume. We're a costuming family. Our kids have grown up with us and our friends in costumes of all sort. Basic rule of costuming is learning when to back off and when to be gentle in your interactions and when it is OK to play, be it a Halloween costume or a fully screen accurate reproduction of your favorite character.

Um, no Halloween is SUPPOSED to be scary. Little kids should go out trick or treating at dusk, before the big kids come out. At least that's how it was always done back in the day...

No, it is halloween. Scary costumes are fine.

i consider it rude to tell people their kids CAN'T dress in scary costumes.
it's halloween!
khairete
S.

As a parent, I avoid events that are inappropriate for my kids. So if there is a street fair or something I know will scare my children, I don't take them there. What pisses me off is when the local grocery store placed a terrifying animatronic zombie within arm's reach of the only entrance and my two year old refused to enter the store in a panic. When I asked them to move it just a few feet away so my kid could get past it, I got a lecture from a snot nosed childless manager how it was up to me to teach my two year old not to be afraid of six foot zombies. Yeah, not something you can teach a two year old child. So, no - if it's a designated Halloween event for adults, we avoid it. But otherwise, it's inappropriate.

No. Your costume is your choice and if it's scary then perhaps the place you're going needs to have a separate section for the bigger kids. Lots of teens want to be zombies or accident victims or worse. They shouldn't have to not get to enjoy their individuality and not get to enjoy the holiday just to please others.

That said, if this is a church party or a family get together then it is within that host/hostess parameters to put out a note that says what is allowed or not allowed.

Our church Trunk or Treat party has specific rules. No masks in the building period. They can put them back on for a costume contest but they cannot hide who they are so that everyone there doesn't know who they are from across the room.

We've had bloody vampires, bloody football players, and more and not one kid was scared. They knew it was dress up night and all in fun.