Always someone trying to find a way to explain why our children are so 'scarred'....its like the others on this thread are saying, just use common sense...if your child is really afraid of some sights or costumes, just steer them past those houses, and go to other more 'friendly' looking homes...dress the little ones in cutesy costumes...or if it is all just too much for some little ones, just stay home...its all common sense...
Heck, if all this hype were true, my younger boy should be scarred for life...the first time he had to sit on Santas lap at Christmastime, when he was 1 1/2yrs old, he cried and screamed the whole time...I guess that big fat man dressed all in red, scared him...the pic I have of him with Santa, shows a crying upset little boy...
Then there was the time a new McDonalds opened near my moms house, and Ronald McDonald was going to make an appearance...so my mom and dad took my two boys to meet Ronald Mcdonald(I was at work at the time)...dad took pics of again, my younger boy, at around age 2...the pic shows my mom holding my terrified 2 yr old, and trying to hand him over for Ronald Mcdonald to hold him...my son is holding onto his grammie for dear life, and the look of terror in his eyes, tells me he greatly feared the big clown, Ronald Mcdonald...
Children have real life problems to worry about....I just dont see Halloween, with its costumes and decorations, as being one of those problems...let your child be your guide...if hes scared, ,stay home...otherwise, enjoy the Halloween nites activities...
Clowns are scary. Almost as scary as mimes.