Halloween excitement is in full swing – and now your child is eager to experience their first haunted house attraction or haunted corn maze. But how can you determine if they’re prepared?

Regrettably, there isn’t a standardized admission age for most haunted venues. Consult the website of the attraction for any age-related recommendations. Some haunted houses permit adolescents and preteens if accompanied by a guardian.

Additionally, bear in mind that children possess different levels of maturity. Typically, it falls on the parents to decide whether a child is ready to explore a haunted house.

Halloween haunted houses strive to surpass prior years by escalating the fear factor annually. Visiting a haunted house is an engaging experience filled with eerie darkness, lights, noises, visuals, and sensations. Exercise your best judgment to determine if your child can handle the intensity of fright and horror they might face at the attraction.

Consider these beneficial tips while making your decision.

Conduct Thorough Research

No two haunted venues are identical, so examine your choices. Utilize the internet, social media, and other resources to investigate haunted houses in your vicinity. If the haunted venue is a temporary enterprise or a non-profit entity, you might need to call for details.

Inquire about their policy regarding child admission. Attempt to assess the “scare level” of the attraction and their safety protocols. Determine whether they permit early exits for visitors who get too frightened. Attractions won’t issue refunds for those who are “too scared” to remain. 

Seek Opinions

Engage with other parents who have children of a comparable age to your own. Ask about their experiences and if they would recommend a particular haunted house for your child compared to another, or if they know of alternative options that might be more suitable. If the attraction has a social media presence, read feedback from other parents.

Evaluate Your Child’s Capacity to Handle Fear

How proficient is your young one at distinguishing between fiction and reality? It’s crucial that kids comprehend the difference between real fear and playful scares before venturing into a haunted house. Also, consider how they react to age-appropriate horror films and the types of Halloween costumes they prefer. These aspects can provide insight into their threshold for being frightened.

Consider Potential Health Concerns

Many haunted attractions employ strobe lights and fog machines. If you’re uncertain if you or your child can cope with these effects, be ready to exit promptly. If someone in your group knows they can’t be around strobe lights or fog machines, choose an event free from these devices, or call ahead to find out their activation times. Larger haunted attractions often include at least one house without strobe lights or fog machines for those more sensitive to them.

‘No Touching’ Policies

Haunted house attractions typically prohibit physical contact from both sides. Avoid touching the actors; they will not touch you. However, some attractions may feature actors who grab or touch your hair, which can be quite alarming for kids, especially newcomers. Look for the “No Touching” sign when approaching an attraction; it’s usually prominently displayed.

Explore the Attraction Ahead of Time

See if you can arrange a daytime walkthrough of the Halloween house or haunted maze before the main event. Identify the exits and learn what to expect as you navigate through. Reassure your child that they will remain safe inside the attraction and can opt to leave at any time.

Have an Alternative Plan

If you feel a traditional haunted house might be too intense for your child at the moment, consider alternatives. Many haunted houses host a “kids night” where they reduce the scares and keep the lights on.

If such an event is unavailable in your area, set up your own haunted house at home! This can serve as a good preparatory step for future haunted attractions.  

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