The boy is now incarcerated. When we read of a violent murder any other time we gasp. But we laugh, tease, call it fun and glorify the same things when Halloween comes. They have difficulty separating between fantasy and fact. And that is taking its toll on our society.
Fear is no joke.
Fear is a powerful and often damaging emotion. The writer of the article quoted developmental psychologist Marvin Berkowitz of Marquette University. Make sure they know it s going to be a fun scare, not a real scare. If the child is horrified, if the kid s traumatized and shrieking, you hold him and comfort him. Give him physical security.