Halloween is typically one of my favorite holidays throughout the year. It’s one of those occasions that is designed purely around fun, never forcing you to endure family in-law gatherings, cook large meals or buy obligatory gifts. You get to kick back, meet your neighbors and watch your kids just be insanely buzzed on sugar for a few hours.
But lately I find my enthusiasm for this occasion dwindling, especially when doing every day shopping. Just about every retailer out there has an entire section of their store dedicated to Halloween costumes, treats and decor. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue worth talking about except for the fact that I have a toddler and these stores display extremely spooky Halloween props.
This past weekend we went through Target to pick up some groceries and must have items. Like we always do, we strolled through the Halloween section which was hard to miss regardless whether we had been going to it or not. Unfortunately, our little stroll through the costumes was cut short.
Kaydence was terrified of the Halloween decor displays right at the front of the aisle. I don’t blame the girl. This particular piece was a life size skeleton full with grotesque features that even made me shudder a bit.
Is it really necessary to display things like this in stores? I could see this being apart of a retailer based solely around Halloween products but not at your friendly neighborhood Target! Really, these types of products should be kept towards the back of the Halloween section. Even our local Party Tree has a section with a disclaimer to help parents avoid these areas. Coincidentally, the same night my daughter woke up crying her little eyes out from what I can only guess was a nightmare.
Cat,
I always (the best I can) avoid walking through that section of the store. It waste a lot of time, but you’re right. It is scary. River has a love of Halloween although he doesn’t have a clue of what it is. I think he does it to bug me. I worry more about Lily and Canyon because I don’t want them seeing the scary and often gross stuff. I also do the same walk around/away from when passing the toy aisle.
What I love about Halloween, even though we don’t celebrate it (we do a harvest festival), are the cool treats and baked goods that people make. I love to bake and there are some really creative food ideas out there.
That is pure fear on her face and she shouldn’t have to experience anything like that at such a young age.
Aww, poor little girl. It bet that was scary! I wouldn’t want my little toddler scared out of their mind in a store either!
Aww, that poor little girl. That is just not right. I think they are gearing Halloween more and more towards the adults and not children. I don’t even mess with any of that holiday anymore. I can just imagine what your poor baby was thinking.
My kids are 7 and 9 and we still have issues. Last year I took them on a haunted hayride and they were both hysterical and we had to leave after waiting in line for 3 hours
I was at Target with both my boys on Saturday and I know exactly what you are talking about. The only difference is both my boys loved the section, including the skeleton and my 3 year old was trying to get me to make it talk again. Of course neither of my boys are scared of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or anything like that. But I do understand. I thought it was rather spooky and was curious how my kiddos would react. They were fascinated and in awe. Sorry it scared her!
Poor thing! I like the cute part of Halloween myself – not the gorey and scary part. We’ve walked by the Halloween section in Target before and I’ve found myself jumping back once or twice when a skeleton screams or a prop starts talking in a loud and spooky voice.
I wonder if someone is watching the camera and seeing what all of our reactions are. I try to avoid it all together when I’m with the kids
Oh, well, except for the candy section – lol!
I have the same problem. I have it in the Halloween aisle and at home when the television runs inappropriate commercials on crime dramas, horror film trailers, and pharmaceuticals that will do all kinds of awful things to you.
It is amazing to me how scary the world is from a small child’s point of view, and I wish more marketing firms would try to see the world through 2,3,4, and 5 year old lenses once in a while!
p.s.: we don’t eat candy, so that section is easy for us to avoid. We find our costumes at The Children’s Place, Gymboree, online, or at consignment shops in our area. I used to get costumes at Target, but stopped when the fear began.
Awww, she does look pretty scared.
My 16 month daughter honestly thought all the Halloween decorations/costumes were funny and she kept laughing at them. LOL… What can I say though, she doesn’t seem scared of anything at all. Very strong willed and quite fearless!
My boys love going to the Spirit Halloween store in town, but my daughter is absolutely terrified this year. It makes me wonder how trick-or-treating is going to go!
Poor thing! My little one is still pretty unsure of Halloween stuff even at 5. I don’t really blame them either with how scary, but realistic they are making things anymore.
How awful for her. Hugs.
My daughter was and still is that way about Halloween decor and costumes
Aw, look at that poor little face!! I agree with you-I like a good scary, gory prop as much as the next person but I’m almost 20! Those things shouldn’t be in plain view of little kids who will freak out.
Poor Kaydence! Sounds like you’ll be avoiding that area for a while. My daughter was that way when she was little–so scared of “spooky stuff”. She was 27 months when she cried about a vampire popping out of a coffin at a store. The next day however, she asked to see it again (and the day after that and so on). My best friend has similar issues with her four year old daughter. It’s just something they steer clear of.
There’s no getting around them putting the stuff that sells, or at least stuff that brings in the kids who can con parents into buying things, front and center. Or they’re marketing to my husband…
I totally agree. My three year old did the same thing. The halloween aisle is not fun with little ones.
Oh I’m with you……my 2 year old keeps talking about “the scary guys” in Target and Michaels. I hope I haven’t traumatized her. UGH!
My three year old has NEVER been afraid of anything. We were in line to pay at Albertsons and he kept asking if the “grinch” wanted to eat him. There was a HUGE green witch perched on top of the freezers in the frozen food aisle overlooking the registers…How do I avoid that? He is now having nightmares and checking in the closets at night. NOT COOL PEOPLE!!!
Poor kiddo! I don’t blame her, mine was pretty scared of it all for the past two years! This year I don’t take her in the stores LOL just till this all passes, she likes Halloween but the cute fun costumes nothing else!
I know exactly what you mean and even thought about doing a post on this very subject. My younger two kids are TERRIFIED of these props!!!! Halloween is supposed to be fun but with all the scary crap they display everywhere it’s hard to enjoy shopping with your kids for fun, not scary items. Signs are a great idea, I haven’t seen those around here. We cant go to the Halloween stores without some meltdowns filled with tears, screams and the ‘I’m too scared to go to bed Mommy ‘ s. Terrible!
Poor little sweetie! She looks terrified. I don’t blame her. Some of those costumes are pretty scary!
I was in the same isle and it scared my 3 yr old to death! I was trying to show her that the skeleton was ok and as we walked by – the bowls with the hands in it jumped at her! She won’t go anywhere near there now!
oh i know when my kids was that age i always had to go the long way around or they would scream bloody murder lol
omgosh, that is so sad cat. How scary that must have been for her!
My kids used to be terrified too! Of course my husband didn’t help by putting on the ugliest mask and purposely scaring them!
Aww. You know I love Halloween but on the same hand I hate it ! My girl hasn’t got to see the Halloween aisle yet! I think she will freak out ! So we are staying to something simple this year!
Aww she really does look petrified. Charlie’s starting to hit this too. He used to be all for scary. Now he goes running.
Awww! Poor thing! I hate when little ones are scared!
Kasandria
aww, poor baby.
they really do have some scary ones out!
Maybe it’s a good thing we don’t go out shopping very often with Kaylee. She is already scared of everything. I bet this would have scared her to death.
what a terrible face so sad and scared. I have one out of the 6 that never really liked scary stuff but several of them did
My daughter used to LOVE Halloween. Now she flat refuses to participate b/c the scary costumes and decorations are too scary to her. We avoid the Halloween rows at all costs!
Poor thing. Hopefully she has forgot about it now. That picture is priceless though!
I’m right there with you. We were in Costco the other day, and my four year old started whimpering, trying to hide in the grocery cart. They had a HUGE bat on display with glowing eyes. Some of that stuff is downright scary! For a holiday that seems to have an emphasis on children, why are so many decorations scaring the pants off of the kids?
I agree with the fact that Halloween is becoming too scary for toddlers, sometimes even adults. Stores should start having more kid friendly Halloween zones.
I understand where you’re coming from. Thankfully, our son River doesn’t seem to be too frightened of anything except sudden loud noises. Of course, his favorite T.V. show is Yo Gabba Gabba and his favorite character is a big, green, hairy monster named Brobee. Once you learn to love something like that, zombies and vampires don’t seem very intimidating. I love Halloween, but agree that scary merchandise should be put in a special section with a disclaimer. If we want to go to a haunted house, we will go to a haunted house..not to Target.
commented on the Too Spooky For Toddlers post http://3kidsandus.com/2009/too-spooky-for-toddlers/#comment-64651
So glad to have found this site! I had the same experience at Target and the produce stand wth my 2 1/2 year old son. I’m SO ready for Halloween to be over. Why celebrate something that just causes terror?