Kids Scary/Gory Costumes - What Age? Update #48

[Ceila]

Growing up, we never were allowed to be anything that resembled violence. It all had to be in good taste. I think I will do the same for our children. They can be ninjas, pirates, etc as long as it isn't over the top.

Right, because those were the good, non-violent guys!

 

[cornflake]

OP Here,

Thanks for all the responses! I spoke with some moms while waiting to pick up my kids and they said their older kids trick or treat with costumes until at least age 12, one had a 13 year old daughter who is playing to go, so my oldest has many years left to dress scary
I love NCIS and the Abby costume - awesome!
Really no one sees the difference between being a gory zombie (fantasy dead guy) and an elite soilder which is a noble life goal? Our country owes it's freedom to such people! And yeah, they carry guns. I see no difference between this and dressing as a fireman or policeman (who carry guns, too). He wants to join the Army so he can blow stuff up and do survival skills, lol. BTW - my son is still 9 and needs to set the example to his younger brother.
Thanks again for the responses!

Whether that's a noble life goal is certainly a matter of opinion, first.

However, second, yes, there's a difference. One is fake - there aren't actual zombies. The other is carrying a replica of an actual deadly weapon that the non-fake character may use to shoot actual people. In my book, that one is so not ok.

 

[Coconut36]

OP Here,

Thanks for all the responses! I spoke with some moms while waiting to pick up my kids and they said their older kids trick or treat with costumes until at least age 12, one had a 13 year old daughter who is playing to go, so my oldest has many years left to dress scary
I love NCIS and the Abby costume - awesome!
Really no one sees the difference between being a gory zombie (fantasy dead guy) and an elite soilder which is a noble life goal? Our country owes it's freedom to such people! And yeah, they carry guns. I see no difference between this and dressing as a fireman or policeman (who carry guns, too). He wants to join the Army so he can blow stuff up and do survival skills, lol. BTW - my son is still 9 and needs to set the example to his younger brother.
Thanks again for the responses!

Yeah sorry but I don't expect my kids to dress up only as characters or real life people with "noble life goals". I don't really see the comparison or the need to compare them or what ones purpose in life or real life occupation is as relevant to my decision to let them dress up as that.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm going to say scary is fine after kindergarten (one more year of the cuteness). However, weapons are NOT allowed at our school for halloween - no knives, swords, guns, etc.

 

[padams]

OP Here,

Thanks for all the responses! I spoke with some moms while waiting to pick up my kids and they said their older kids trick or treat with costumes until at least age 12, one had a 13 year old daughter who is playing to go, so my oldest has many years left to dress scary
I love NCIS and the Abby costume - awesome!
Really no one sees the difference between being a gory zombie (fantasy dead guy) and an elite soilder which is a noble life goal? Our country owes it's freedom to such people! And yeah, they carry guns. I see no difference between this and dressing as a fireman or policeman (who carry guns, too). He wants to join the Army so he can blow stuff up and do survival skills, lol. BTW - my son is still 9 and needs to set the example to his younger brother.
Thanks again for the responses!

Zombies are always fake. Weapons not so much. I'd rather my child dress as a fantasy creature than a killer. A spec ops soldier with weapons is not the same as dressing as a policeman or a fireman.

 

[cornflake]

Zombies are always fake. Weapons not so much. I'd rather my child dress as a fantasy creature than a killer. A spec ops soldier with weapons is not the same as dressing as a policeman or a fireman.

This too. Fire fighter especially has nothing to do with that, but also police officer and soldier are not close to the same, imo.

 

[JamesMom]

Zombies are always fake. Weapons not so much. I'd rather my child dress as a fantasy creature than a killer. A spec ops soldier with weapons is not the same as dressing as a policeman or a fireman.

LOL, and zombies don't kill - how else they get the brains? I am sure our heroic men and women in uniform appreciate your viewpoint. Over and out.

 

[cornflake]

LOL, and zombies don't kill - how else they get the brains? I am sure our heroic men and women in uniform appreciate your viewpoint. Over and out.

They're FAKE, they don't actually kill anything because they're not real. Guns are real and actually kill people.

 

[violetrose]

My kids are all adults now but it never occurred to me that there had to be a certain age to dress scary. Halloween was a lot less politically correct then.

OP, if those are your boys in your signature, they are so cute! They probably don't want to be Harry Potter anymore I guess? I'd let them go ahead and dress how they want. It isn't like they are real little. I think 8-10 is a good age to let them start having more responsibility and letting them do things they previously were not allowed to do.

 

[MrsDuck]

I voted any age. To me, "scary" isn't as concerning as "sexy".

That said, I'm not a mommy. OP- do what you and your spouse think is the right choice!

 

[mamamary]

They're FAKE, they don't actually kill anything because they're not real. Guns are real and actually kill people.

Like a PP said my son was also a zombie skateboarder prob. around the same age - grade 4. He's been a skeleton and some other scary stuff that i can't even remember.

 

[Caseheidi]

IMHO it depends on the kid. If they are old enough to understand the fantasy and mature enough to not go over board (and this is a different age for each child) then I do not see much of a problem. What about a compromise on the zombie? Let him be a zombie, but one without blood and gore? Do the tattered clothes and death make-up, but no ugly wounds?

 

[JamesMom]

My kids are all adults now but it never occurred to me that there had to be a certain age to dress scary. Halloween was a lot less politically correct then.

OP, if those are your boys in your signature, they are so cute! They probably don't want to be Harry Potter anymore I guess? I'd let them go ahead and dress how they want. It isn't like they are real little. I think 8-10 is a good age to let them start having more responsibility and letting them do things they previously were not allowed to do.

Yes, those are my boys from last Halloween, thank you, and I went as Hermoine. My DS7 wants to be Harry this year, actually! Yea as we already have the costume.

 

[awoogala]

I have no issue with the vampires, etc. But I am tired of my kids having weeks of nightmares because of the gory stuff. So I would have to say anything with violent, gory overtones should wit for 7th/8th grade minimum.

 

[pixiewings71]

I've always let my girls pick their own costumes, since they were big enough to do so. Gory, scary, cute, whatever, just not sexy. They don't watch scary movies, DD12 will hardly watch Ghost Hunters with me, DD16 loves GH, they weren't exposed to gore or scary when they were smaller but if they wanted to be a zombie then they would be a zombie. It's Halloween, it's pretend, they get that. I have no problems with the outfits they chose to wear as they chose appropriately.

 

[jujube]

Looks like another:
I want your opinion but I really don't want your opinion unless it's the same as mine.

 

[jrmasm]

Looks like another:
I want your opinion but I really don't want your opinion unless it's the same as mine.

Yup.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

My children have just never asked to be anything scary or bloody but if they did, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It's Halloween , Not career day!!!

The only rules I have about Halloween are that the description can't have the word "sexy" in it. That's mostly for my 12 yr old dd. Last year she was a Ninja, ballerina, cat burglar. She wore black leggings and a black turtle neck, her ballet tutu, a tiger tail, and a tiger mask.....I have no idea where this concoction came from but she was darn cute!

 

[superme80]

I have never liked gory scary stuff for halloween. If we celebrated it I would not allow those kind of costumes.

 

[indimom]

I'd have no problem with a zombie or vampire or even the scream mask at that age. My kids aren't fans of scary movies and have never seen Scream, but they certainly recognize the mask and think its cool for halloween.