Ensuring a Happy Halloween
Kids love scary films. The trick is finding films that are a thrilling treat -- but still age appropriate. Movies with scary images, intense peril, loud noises, and -- above all -- blood, can create all sorts of disturbances, including anxiety, sleep disruption, and fears about certain situations.

In fact, according to one University of Michigan study, the younger kids are when they see a scary movie or TV show, the longer-lasting the effects. The study showed that one in four college students still had lingering effects from a frightful childhood movie or TV experience.

Here are some guidelines to use:

Little kids: Kids under 7 can’t separate fantasy and reality. They believe what they see. For preschoolers, nothing should be more startling than “Boo.” Even for the 5-7 year old group -- who like haunted houses, mysteries, and things popping up out of nowhere -- you should stick to animation.

Bigger kids: Kids in the 8-10 age group can handle being scared for longer periods of time -- in fact, they love it. Continue to choose films without gore or physical harm. Some peril is fun as long as the resolution involves a happy ending.

Tweens: They\'re ready to be scared silly. Even so, stick to movies that have humor mixed in, or those with safe-and-sound endings.

Teens: These kids can handle dramatic and pyschological suspense -- but kids under 16 still shouldn’t see slice-\'em-and-dice-\'em horrors, especially those that feature kids in dire peril or lots of gore. Instead, try some of the real horror and suspense classics. Just make sure that any younger siblings are out trick-or-treating or already tucked in bed.

What do you do when you’ve made a mistake and shown something too scary? According to Joanne Cantor, author of Mommy, I\'m Scared: How TV and Movies Frighten Children and What We Can Do to Protect Them, non-verbal remedies -- a hug, a glass of water, distracting activities -- may work best. Kids under 7 often respond well to magical remedies -- an Indian dream-catcher or a ritual check for monsters in the closet.

Looking for specific suggestions on which movies to rent? Get our top picks for each age group. And for more on the criteria we use to make our age recommendations, click here.