Well, first, it should have a non - threatening villain or spooky element. For example, a ghost that just wants to play rather than scare. Second, the language used should be simple and easy for kids to understand. Third, it could involve some kind of Halloween tradition, like trick - or - treating. In a story, a family could go trick - or - treating and meet different friendly Halloween creatures along the way. This makes the story more engaging and educational for kids about the holiday.
Simple and relatable characters are important. For example, a friendly little ghost or a curious cat. Also, the plot should not be too scary. It could have a little mystery, like a missing piece of a Halloween costume that needs to be found. And a positive message, such as the power of kindness or friendship, is great. For instance, in a story where a group of kids help a lost goblin on Halloween night.
One characteristic is that they usually feature familiar Halloween symbols in a non - threatening way. Take 'Pumpkin Jack' for instance. The pumpkin is a common Halloween symbol, and the story focuses on its life cycle rather than scaring kids with it. Also, kid - friendly Halloween stories tend to have a happy ending. Whether it's the old lady in 'The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything' who overcomes her spooky encounters or the animals finding a place on the witch's broom in 'Room on the Broom', the endings make kids feel good. Moreover, the characters are often relatable for kids, like the boy in 'Pumpkin Jack' who loves his pumpkin.
Cats are very common too. Black cats are often associated with Halloween. In some stories, a cat might be a magical cat that helps a witch or a child. They can be both cute and mysterious, adding an element of fun to the story. They might lead the way to a hidden Halloween party or protect a child from a spooky situation.
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.
One wonderful kid - friendly Halloween story is 'Room on the Broom'. A kind witch loses her things while flying on her broomstick, and different animals help her find them. They all then ride on the broom together. It has fun rhymes and a positive message about friendship. And the witch and the animals' adventures are not too scary for kids.
They are usually not too scary. For example, they might have spooky elements like ghosts or witches, but these are presented in a more light - hearted way. So, instead of a really terrifying ghost, it could be a friendly ghost that just wants to play. They also often have a moral or a lesson. Such as in 'The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything', the lesson could be about facing your fears. And they typically use simple language that kids can easily understand.
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.
One common element is friendly spooky characters like friendly ghosts or cute witches. For example, a story might have a little witch who uses her magic for good. Another element is a simple adventure, such as a lost item that needs to be found. Also, treats are often part of the story, like the special Halloween candies. And of course, the kids' costumes play a role too, whether it's a superhero or a monster costume.
A good kid - friendly spooky story often has a relatable protagonist, like a child or an animal. For example, in 'The Velveteen Rabbit', the rabbit is a character kids can empathize with. Also, the spooky elements should be more mysterious than terrifying. It could be a strange noise in an old attic or a shadow that moves in an unusual way. And there should be a happy or at least not - too - sad ending to make kids feel comfortable.
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 little owl named Hoot was excited for Halloween. He saw all the kids having fun and decided to join them. He flew from tree to tree, watching the children in their costumes. When a little girl dropped her lollipop, Hoot swooped down and returned it to her. The girl was so happy and thanked Hoot, and Hoot felt like he was part of the Halloween celebration.