Top 10 Scary Childhood Stories: What Are They?

The unknown elements in these stories make them scary. For example, in 'The Babadook', we don't really know what the Babadook fully is. It's just this menacing presence. In 'Coraline', the other world that seems so similar yet so wrong with the button - eyed characters is full of the unknown. It makes kids feel uneasy as they can't predict what will happen next.

I remember when I was young, we visited an old, spooky house. There were creaking noises everywhere and the rooms were dimly lit. I was so scared that I held my parents' hands tightly the whole time and couldn't wait to leave.

One of my scariest childhood memories was getting lost in a big supermarket. I was so small and all the tall aisles looked the same. I was terrified that I'd never find my parents again. Thankfully, a kind store employee helped me.

Well, there's the La Llorona story. It's about a weeping woman who lost her children and now wanders near rivers, crying and sometimes stealing children who are out too late. Also, the story of the Chupacabra is quite scary for kids. It's a creature that sucks the blood of livestock. It was often told to make kids come home early before dark.

One classic childhood scary story is 'Bloody Mary'. Legend has it that if you stand in a dark bathroom, light some candles, and say 'Bloody Mary' three times, a spooky apparition will appear. Another is 'The Hook Man'. It's about a couple parked in a lovers' lane and a man with a hook for a hand tries to get them. Then there's 'The Babadook', which features a creepy monster that haunts a mother and son.

One of the top 10 scary stories could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and eventually murders him. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw'. A family gets a magical paw that grants wishes but with horrible consequences. And 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' where Ichabod Crane has a terrifying encounter with the Headless Horseman.

Childhood scary stories can have different effects. Some children might get nightmares. For example, after hearing about Bloody Mary, a child could be too scared to go to the bathroom alone at night. But it can also be a way to face fears in a controlled way. When kids listen to 'The Hook Man' story, they can experience fear but also know it's just a story in the end.

Well, for top 3 scary stories, 'The Shining' is really up there. A writer and his family stay in an isolated hotel during the winter, and the hotel has a dark past that drives the father crazy and makes him turn on his family. Next is 'It'. The story of a shape - shifting clown named Pennywise that preys on children's fears. And finally, 'Silence of the Lambs'. The serial killer Hannibal Lecter and his mind games with Clarice Starling make this a very scary story.

One of the top 5 scary short stories could be 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and eventually kills him. Another might be 'The Monkey's Paw' where a family gets a cursed paw that grants wishes but with horrible consequences. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is also very scary, it shows a woman's descent into madness due to her isolation and the strange wallpaper in her room.

One of the scary stories is about the Haunted Mansion. Some guests claim to have seen strange apparitions that are not part of the regular show. Another story involves the Matterhorn Bobsleds. There are rumors of a ghostly skier that has been spotted in the area. And there are tales of unexplained noises and cold spots in certain areas of the park after closing.