Be careful with sharing horror stories with kids

Have you shared a horror story with your kids? Or do you often tell them that there is a momo, wak-wak, Kik-Kik, monster, witch, and more?

Did you come to realize that it will have a great effect on their part?

Last week, we have a visitor a 9 years old girl, a daughter with one of my friends, who also lived in the same place that we are living. That girl had a different behavior because she looks nervous and it seems that she was talking about something rare that we don't understand, and she speaks English so fast. They came home at 2 pm and they played with my kids for almost three hours. I cooked ripe saba for their snack. When suddenly, there is heavy rainfall came, and that also lasted for an hour.

Until, 4 pm, the girl and her sister had a plan to go home because they were afraid that her mom will be mad.

I see that the girl was uneasy when the rain never stops from falling in, she cover her face in her dress, and even if she cover everything, she still looks so afraid, that she close her eyes, and don't know what she was saying.

Then, while we were eating bananas, she tells me, that the river where they washed their clothes turned into blood. I asked them who says that to her, and she said, "auntie Gina."

As she tells me about that horrible thing that aunt Gina has experienced, I can see in her eyes, fear, and she looks so afraid and can't stay still while she sat before me.

A few moments later, it was 5 in the afternoon, her elder sister told her that they need to go home before it gets dark.

But the younger sister lie down on the floor and cover herself with her shirt, she was trembling, she said that it was going to be dark and the tall man near the blue building will come out.

There was a blue and red building that is located beside the road where they need to pass by while going home. The little girl told me, that she was afraid to go home because there was a witch in that facility. I told her that she should pray intimately so that her fear will never win against her. She still feels uncomfortable, her eyes looking around like she's so vigilant if there's something that will come out from elsewhere.

My point of view

There are tendencies that we shared stories that are unrealistic to children, especially with something creepy that gives an impact on their lives and cause them fear and hesitation towards people and even in a new environment.

Children are innocent and they are convinced easily when we tell them stories. What adults would say or do, are true in their eyes, even if it's not. Then they also relay the story to their friends and playmates, and everyone will keep on talking about it.

As far as I know, I didn't see any ghosts or wak-wak in person ever since I exist in the world. I also ask my grandmother when she was still alive who was 86 years old if she saw it, and she said no.

From my observation of the little girl who came to us, she was just being traumatized by a story that she received. And it gives her an effect.

Emotionally

She cried easily, as in like she growled saying, no, when her elder sister told her that they will go home in the afternoon. And I think it's unhealthy for her at a young age that has a lot of fear in her surroundings.

Actions

She walks so fast or moves quickly when someone teases her with something creepy, and she reacts instantly.

Words

She speaks words something that I don't recognize when she's afraid, and I can't understand what it is.

And lastly, it caused her stress, when it's already 5 ' clock, at night or when she walks alone anywhere, it causes her to have a fright with anything, and on any surfaces, or closed doors she's scared.

Kids are honest with their feelings, they should never live in lies that spread around. They should be taught reality, and sound advice.

Horror stories can give them anxiety and they can't control their emotions when it comes to the highest level.

We better think twice and, if we used that kind of story to make them obey, then it's not a healthy way, their obedience to their parents must come out voluntarily which comes from the heart and not as out of fear or manipulating them like there is a mo-mo or wak-wak, which, monster, etc.

Mostly, we used these expressions with kids, but not all kids have the same coping ability and handling of their emotions. The girl that I have encountered last week, is having a different character, and other kids have the same feelings too.

That's all for today's article, it takes time for me to log in here because the weekend is just the busiest day of the week.

Thanks to all my sponsors in the box, and everyone who spend time reading this post.

So long.

All images from unsplash