Another scary element is the sense of being watched. In some stories, kids feel like there are eyes on them all the time, but they can't see who or what it is. This makes them constantly on edge and fills them with fear. It's like there's a hidden danger that could strike at any moment, and they have no way to protect themselves.
One scary kid story is about the girl in the mirror. A little girl would always see a strange figure in the mirror at night. It had long black hair covering its face and was just standing there, motionless. It made her so scared that she stopped using that mirror.
One classic kid horror story is 'The Monkey's Paw'. It's about a family who comes into possession of a magical monkey's paw that grants wishes, but with terrifying consequences. Another is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' which is a bit more intense. It's a story of a man who is driven mad by an old man's 'evil eye' and commits a horrible act. And 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' is a collection full of spooky tales for kids.
One great kid - friendly scary Halloween story is 'The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything'. It's about a little old lady who encounters a series of spooky things like shoes that go 'clomp, clomp' and pants that go 'wiggle, wiggle' but she shows no fear. In the end, she uses her wits to turn the spooky things into something fun. Another is 'Room on the Broom'. It has a witch who loses her things while flying on her broomstick and different animals help her. There's a bit of a scary moment when a dragon shows up, but it all ends well.
A good kid - friendly scary Halloween story could be about a haunted tree. In a small town, there's a big, old tree in the park. Every Halloween, strange noises come from it. One year, a group of brave kids decide to find out what's going on. As they get closer, they see shadows moving around the tree. But when they finally reach it, they find out that it's just some squirrels that have made their home in the hollow part of the tree. They were the ones making the noises as they moved around their acorn stash. It's a bit scary at first but has a funny and non - threatening ending.
Well, on one hand, they can be a bit scary for sure. But in a positive way, they can help kids face their fears in a safe environment. When they read or hear these stories, they know it's just a story, yet it can make them feel brave if they can get through it.
One of the scary stories might be about haunted houses. In the 1960s, there were tales of old mansions where strange noises could be heard at night. People claimed to see shadowy figures moving in the hallways. Another could be about cursed objects. Maybe an old doll that seemed to have a life of its own and caused misfortune to those who possessed it.
One story could be about a haunted house. In this 315 scary story, there was an old, dilapidated mansion on the outskirts of town. People who passed by at night often heard strange wailing sounds coming from inside. Some brave souls who entered reported seeing shadowy figures moving in the hallways. It was said that a family had died horribly in that house many years ago, and their spirits were trapped there, forever tormenting those who dared to come close.
Well, first of all, the scary elements should be more on the side of mystery and the unknown rather than pure horror. For instance, in 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow', the Headless Horseman is spooky because we don't really know who he is or why he's there. But it doesn't involve things like excessive blood or body parts which are not suitable for kids. The characters in kid - friendly scary stories should also be relatable. In 'The Graveyard Book', the boy growing up in the graveyard is a character kids can empathize with. He has to deal with being different and facing scary things, just like kids might feel scared in new or unknown situations. Another factor is the tone. It should not be too dark throughout. There should be some light - hearted moments or humor to break up the scares, like in 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' where there are some spooky but also funny moments.
There's also 'The Campfire Ghost'. The story goes that long ago, a camper disappeared near the campfire area. Every now and then, when the campfire is lit at night, you can see a faint figure sitting on a log near the fire. But it's not a harmful ghost. Some say it's just the lost camper's spirit, still enjoying the warmth of the campfire. Legend has it that if you offer a marshmallow to the figure, it will disappear until the next campfire night.