Originally written by Caroline Knorr and published on Common Sense Media One kid's laugh riot is another's fright fest. Learn how to choose age-appropriate scary movies. Scariness comes from fear of the unknown, from surprise, and from fears about the loss of a loved one. Different things scare different children; it's not always possible to predict what will frighten a particular kid. Young kids are frightened more by creatures that older children know don’t exist. Abrupt noises, eerie sounds, and music create tension in both younger and older children. Psychological suspense, with its threats of impending doom, can terrify your middle-school kids. So how do you choose scary movies for kids? Movies with scary images, intense danger, loud noises, and — above all — blood and gore can create all sorts of disturbances. Among them are anxiety, sleep disruption, and fears about possible situations. Children younger than 7 years old can't easily distinguish between fantasy and reality — even if you tell them "it's not real." You will know if your kids have become too frightened when they start having sleep problems, irrational fears, and obsessions with things like zombies. Scary and disturbing images and sounds can affect vulnerable kids for years.

Related: 5 Tips to Make Family Movie Night a Success

So, what do you do? Click through the slideshow (only a handful of slides, we promise!) to see tips on choosing scary movies for kids broken down by age group — including some suggestions for each range! Don't forget to SHARE these scary movie tips with other parents!

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