So there is this kiddie train at a local park in my area. During the summer they run the train ride through the woods. It is just a basic scenic ride through the woods. My kids LOVE it.
So, in October they run a Haunted train ride. I honestly have not been on it since I was in high school. And during that time I remember thinking...lame. But they had people in costume. Some hiding behind trees. I believe it to be scary enough for a 6 year old. If I recall one even comes on the train. Oh and of course this all starts at dusk.
However, one of my friends who also has a 6 year old does not think it to be scary for their daughter. They are going with another prior classmate next Friday. I know my daughter would love to hang with these classmates and loved the train ride in the summer but is not going to like the "haunted" part of it. So I've already said, no.
My question to you all is: Would you let your 6 year old go on a haunted train or have you? If not, when would you? If so, how did they handle it?
I should add I already know my daughter would not like this ride...so I know we aren't going.
My question more had to do with this family subjects their daughter to all kinds of scary things in my opinion. In preschool, they had already let her watch that I know of edward scissor hands, king kong, and twilight. (Possibly even more scarier ones, but I think scary enough for a 4 year old) And they wonder why she is afraid to go up stairs in their house or play upstairs alone. Also she sleeps with her mom every night.
So my question had more to do with what others do in their families? Is this common to let children do these type of things at this age?
Also want to add...my daughter road on a roller coaster last month with a fellow friend, while this friend had to ride with her mom. So my daughter is fearless in different ways.
THANKS for the replies. I guess some kids at 6 do take it better than others. In all honesty I did not even ask mine....as I know she is the type to have nightmares.
Yes, probably.. I would just let my 6 year old know in advance that all this stuff is pretend and not real... That way, he or she doesn't try to come in my bed for the next week because their scared...
I would go first, to see how scary it is. If it doesn't seem too horrible, then I would take him.
We took my cousin to several haunted attractions when he was 6. A couple of them had a 'mellow' version that wasn't so scary earlier in the day, and then went all out at night. He did pretty good with them all, even the 'full-strength' ones. The main thing is that he will take his cues from YOU... So if you ride the train acting all scared, then he will get scared. But if you act like it's super fun, and let him know that the scary parts aren't real, then he should do fine.
ABSOLUTELY!! My kids (6 and 8) have been BEGGING to do the haunted hayrides and haunted houses in our area (stuff that used to scare me when I was a teen!)... they LOVE being scared!!
The closest I've gotten to doing this was them, was a haunted ride on the boardwalk about 2 years ago. I couldn't go on because I was pregnant, but my husband took the girls... they came out with the BIGGEST grins on their faces and wanted to go again. My husband said HE was about climbing in the kids laps HE was so spooked, but the girls would squeal with laughter every time they got scared!! They were only 4 and 5 (almost 6) at the time!!
I would ask her of she wants to go, knowing it's "haunted."
My son is a big chicken, and he would probably say "no" but maybe if his buds were going he would feel braver!
ETA: Well, m y son is 8.5 and, while he is getting braver, he's still a chicken! LOL I let him decide what is too scary for him. He is recently showing interest in going to a haunted house, but I don't think it will be THIS year! He's very interested in WWII, and when he's watching a program on the Military channel or the History channel, he'll sometimes turn it off or say "I don't think this is appropriate...." and ask me to turn it off. You know your child best, so just do what you think she'll actually enjoy.
My son has never watched what I would consider a "horror movie" because he KNOWS it will be too scary for him.
It all depends on the kid. My daughter got a kick out of scary things, but some of her friends just got freaked out over them. If you know your kid is the type to get freaked out, then don't let her go.
Well since your daughter already says she wont like it, then I vote no. If my kid was really into that kind of thing I would for sure let her go. It just depends on the kid.
Mine loved that kind of stuff, so yeah I took them to the haunted houses in town and did the Halloween at Magic Mountain thing one year. They loved the haunted mansion at Disneyland. It just depends on the kid and their level of maturity on scary masks and things like that. Some are into it, some are not. I'm sure it's a 50/50 deal.
Yes. I would let my child go. At the age of 6 - she will be able to make her own decisions...if you tell her and convince her she won't like it - she won't.
Most of the "haunted" train rides are as you said "lame"...so why worry about it? Let her go and have fun with her friends.
Depends on your kid. My DD would have been scared to death and would have had nightmares for a long time regardless of how lame it appears to an adult. My son would have loved it and known right away that it was make-believe. How does your child respond to TV shows - does she empathize with the make-believ characters and share their emotions? or does she make comments like: "that is so fake", etc? I think that will tell you alot about how your child will handle this.
Personally I am not a fan of gore & haunted houses - I have never like them and can not stand the whole horror genre. I'm nauseated by the "decorations" that some people have in their yard at halloween of "feet" or "limbs" sticking out of graves, etc. bleah...
I'm like you. I wouldn't take her on that ride at that age. I'm not sure what age would be okay. Mine aren't old enough yet. Well...maybe my tiny almost-9 year old is old enough.
I can't believe they showed those movies in preschool. That's crazy!
I would not because my children would absolutely hate it. There would probably be tears. My brother would probably take his daughter and she is younger than my boys. She has been watching scary movies and playing older video games for as long as she's been born. I don't *think* it would scare her, but it might! For me, 6 and 9 (my boy's ages) is too young and they would not really understand that it's for fun.
L.
I know a kid that at 6y was all about skeletons and ghosts. His birthday is in OCT and the the scarier the better. He would totally love a haunted train.
I also know a 10y that doesn't like that stuff and would NOT love a haunted train.
For my family I would let the kids decide. We do have what I believe is 2 ghosts that mess with our house so for us it literally hits home.
It's amazing what will scare a child. I would err on the side of caution. The Wizard of Oz scared me when I was little when some of my friends just loved it. Clowns terrified my youngest. She's 16 now and still doesn't like them...My answer to your question is NO I would not let my 6 year old go on a haunted train ride.
God bless,
M.
If I knew she would like it and wanted to go, yes I would. I know my 6 yr old would hate it.
I think it depends on the child. I know my youngest would be scared bu my oldest has always liked things like that. I'll never forget when we were in Disney my oldest was 5 at the time and a girl (looked a few years older) was crying and screaming on a ride he turned around and said to her "it's just pretend". Some kids like scary things and get right away that it's just pretend it's not real but others dont.
We have a local train ride like that in 2 locations. One they use for the scary version (they warn you that it is VERY scary and not for young children) and one they say is more for the under 8 set. We will NOT take DD to the other version til she is much older. Our teen has reported it to be quite gruesome.
Bottom line - If your child is not going to like it and it is not appropriate, then yes, make that call for her. She can hang with the classmates at a more appropriate event.
Go on it yourself and then decide.
I would think that if it's geared for little kids, they aren't going to be too graphic and scary. Age appropriate stuff would make sense, but I don't plan these things.
Just go yourself and see if it's something you want to treat your son to.
If the child really wanted to go, and it was only a little scary, maybe. I tend to say not until they're older. Yet I have family members whose kids loved that kind of stuff early on.
