What are the characteristics of good scary stories for kids horror stories?

They often have an interesting setting. For example, a spooky old house or a dark forest. This creates an immediate sense of unease.

One characteristic is the use of spooky settings. For example, old, abandoned houses or dark forests. These places create an immediate sense of unease. Another is the presence of strange or supernatural creatures like ghosts, witches, or monsters. They add to the horror element. Also, a sense of mystery is often there. Stories might start with a strange event that the kids in the story need to figure out, like in 'The Mysterious Disappearance in the Old Mill' type of stories.

The story of 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' can be considered not - scary in a friendly retelling. Goldilocks enters the bears' house while they are out. She tries their porridge, chairs, and beds. When the bears come back, she runs away. It can be a fun way to teach kids about respecting others' property.

They often have a quick build - up of tension. Since they are short, they can't waste time. So they start creating an uneasy feeling almost immediately. For instance, a story might start with a character in a dark and isolated place right away. There's also the use of sudden twists. A story might seem to be going one way, and then suddenly, there's a completely unexpected and terrifying turn of events.

One characteristic is that they often have a focus on mystery rather than pure horror. For example, in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow', the mystery of the Headless Horseman and whether he's real or just a superstition drives the story more than the actual scares. Another characteristic is the presence of some humor. In 'The Canterville Ghost', the ghost's attempts to be menacing are constantly thwarted by the family's nonchalant attitude, which adds a humorous touch. Also, not so scary horror stories might have a more positive or redemptive ending. Instead of a full - on tragic and terrifying end, like in 'The Monkey's Paw' where the family learns a valuable lesson, but it's not a completely hopeless and horror - filled conclusion.

Long scary horror stories often have a slow - building atmosphere. They start by introducing characters and a setting that seems normal at first, but then gradually introduce elements of the unknown and the terrifying. For example, in 'The Haunting of Hill House', the old mansion is initially presented as just an old building, but as the story progresses, the strange noises and apparitions start to appear.

One classic scary story for kids is 'The Three Little Pigs'. The big bad wolf is a menacing figure. Another is 'Hansel and Gretel' with the evil witch in the forest. And 'Little Red Riding Hood' also has some scary elements, like the wolf disguising as the grandmother.

One classic is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It has a spooky atmosphere as the narrator becomes obsessed with an old man's 'evil eye'. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' which has a sense of dread and unexpected consequences. Also, 'Hansel and Gretel' can be quite scary for kids with the idea of being lost in the forest and the witch who wants to eat them.

There's 'In a Dark, Dark Wood'. The repetitive use of 'dark' in the description builds a spooky atmosphere. It goes on to describe a house in the wood and all the creepy things that might be inside. There's a sense of anticipation and fear as the story unfolds. It's a simple story but the descriptive words like 'dark' and 'creaky' are enough to engage a child's imagination and give them a bit of a scare in a fun way.

One characteristic is that they often have a simple yet spooky plot. For example, in 'The Monkey's Paw', the basic idea of wishes going wrong in a horrible way is easy for kids to understand but still scary. Another is the use of common fears like the dark or strange creatures. In many kids horror short stories, there might be a spooky old house or a mysterious forest. Also, they usually have a moral lesson hidden within. Like in 'The Tell - Tale Heart', it can be seen as a caution about the consequences of guilt.