Make Halloween less scary: Don’t forget anti-monster spray

After a young child watches a scary movie or is frightened by a Halloween costume, parents should reach for a can of anti-monster spray before bedtime, says Theresa Kruczek, a counseling psychology professor at Ball State University.

“Preschool children and those in early elementary school often have a difficult time with Halloween,” she says. “Children this age often struggle with separating fantasy from reality and as a result they may get confused and think the scary elements of Halloween are real.”

“After a frightening experience, children may have nightmares. They really can’t tell us too much about the dream, but we can take some precautions to ward off those dreams by using a can of air freshener, otherwise known as anti-monster spray, to keep monsters at bay. Monsters don’t like nice-smelling stuff.”

Kruczek also advises:

  • Limit preschoolers to 30 minutes or less of activities, including trick-or-treating, and only during daylight hours.
  • Ask friends and strangers to take off masks to show children that there really is a person under the costume.
  • Parents and siblings should never wear masks around youngsters afraid of such items.
  • In families with children of varying age ranges, allow each youngster to participate in age-appropriate activities.
  • Avoid haunted houses unless the facility offers age-appropriate activities.

“Just because you love haunted houses doesn’t mean your 4-year-old will,” Kruczek says. “Parents are in the best position to know what frightens their child and to help them cope with Halloween. If kids freak out during a scary movie, they’ll freak out at a haunted house or when someone in a scary outfit comes by.”

Download the video of Prof. Kruczek explaining the use of anti-monster spray here, or watch it on YouTube here.

Contact Prof. Kruczek at tkruczek@bsu.edu.

Ball State University provided this story.