Creepy Halloween Scares Daycare Kids

[PitterPatter]

I have neighbors across the street from me, an older Mother and a maybe 19 yr old daughter. To give you some back ground... The daughter is creepy in herself in what she wears she's overweight and wears skin tight goth clothing. Other times she looks like Rainbow bright. She is always doing things for attention. I do not speak to them and not sure why. Neither of us have ever made an effort other than smiles here there (never the daughter shes a grump) The Mother has spoken a few times over 10 yrs and given us some items she was getting rid of like paper and work books etc for the kids she is nice enough. The daughter just irrritates me with her loud obnoxious ways... anyway ...

Last year the daughter hung some morbid looking decor for Halloween in mid September. A bloody head (real looking) hangs from her porch and freaks the kids out. They have a couple other simple things but the head freaked the kids out. I spoke up about it loudly telling the kids it was fake and agreeing with them it is scary to have around. Well I guess the teen took this as a chance to piss me off because today the Halloween decor went up again. I dont know why she puts it up so early and leaves it up into mid november too...

Today we have the usual decor along with that bloody screaming head hanging but also a new item. A demonic looking LIFE SIZE little girl on a swing!! I tried not to pay much attention because thats what she likes but it looks very scary and the kids again made comments when they saw the doll head. They havent seen the doll up and in action yet as it didnt get put up until they left for the day but I am afraid it will scare them. To make it worse my family was sitting in the living room watching a movie when the dog dives to the window and starts barking. Then we hear it, singing. It's 10 pm who would be singing outside. We listen and it's a little girl singing a creepy kids tune like u would hear in a scary movie. We look out and that creepy little demon doll is now swinging all alone and singing! Then it says something creepy we cant make out from in our house across the street. Her head turns her feet kick and her eyes glow. Chills actually went through me and my son (10) freaked!!! He wanted to go stay with his gran. The damn doll continued to go off and on for the past 2 hours! My sons room is right across from that porch so he wont sleep in his room now. I am afraid the doll will scare the kids too. I can't believe they would decorate like this across from a daycare with small children. AND I know that rude teen got this creepy kid just to piss me off and maybe to scare the kids on purpose. My Mother said I should tell her to take it down but 1st of all she has every right to hang it. It's her property. 2nd if I would tell her that she would laugh in my face and probably hang more just to piss me off. So not telling them to take it down. BUT what do I do if/when it scares the kids? Honestly I am an adult and it freaks me out when I see it in action too.

Have any of you had this problem? How did you deal with it? What did you do to comfort the little ones that don't settle with "its fake"?

[sharlan]

We really decorate, go all out, for Halloween. But I don't want anything hanging that will scare the kids. I take them outside and show them everything so it's not a big deal to them.

As for the demonic doll and bloody head, that's too far out for the littles. If I saw the mother out, I'd walk across the street and talk to her. Let her know that it's upsetting to your daycare kids. That's really all you can do.

If the mom won't do anything, try to keep your curtains closed and keep the littles out back as much as possible.

As for the doll singing after 10, I'd call the police.

[littlemissmuffet]

Honestly, I don't really think it's your place to say anything and you need to get over it. Just keep reminding the children that the items are not real and that they are simply Halloween decorations... trust me... they're going to see much worse over the holiday.

I love Halloween and before I did daycare we decorated the house in macabre ways as well. Now, we do cutsie decorations that won't scare the kids but I don't have any sort of issues with what the neighbors put up... no matter how creepy. It's the one time of year that it';s acceptable to be "dark".

I don't believe in censoring the world, I believe in educating the kids about what they see.

[countrymom]

well when you decorate make sure you have spotlight aimed at their house, if you have to deal with the doll then they can deal with a nice bright spot light. Sorry but there's a time and place. I wouldn't care if it was close to halloween but we still have over a month before halloween.

[dave4him]

That is a public disturbance

[PitterPatter]

We really decorate, go all out, for Halloween. But I don't want anything hanging that will scare the kids. I take them outside and show them everything so it's not a big deal to them.

As for the demonic doll and bloody head, that's too far out for the littles. If I saw the mother out, I'd walk across the street and talk to her. Let her know that it's upsetting to your daycare kids. That's really all you can do.

If the mom won't do anything, try to keep your curtains closed and keep the littles out back as much as possible.

As for the doll singing after 10, I'd call the police.

Thanks for the replies everyone! The problem is my "back yard" is at my side directly across from this porch so when the kids play they see and hear the decor. If I can hear the doll inside my house with a movie playing then they will hear her when they are 15 ft away so that is my concern. Wouldnt even be so bad if it wasnt so life like with the head turning and feet kicking swinging etc I just dont get why she had to pick a demonic kid and hang it right out front facing us. She has a side she could hang it from.

I agree in not censoring and not really my place Miss Muffet but don't you agree its rude to not think of the little kids? Explaining, yes I do that but what does a 2 yr old understand in words when she sees the things in action? As I said I dont plan on saying anything because the teen runs that house and I just know she would enjoy the attention and just get more to put out. I guess I just wanted to come vent because I just cant believe some people dont think more about kids. They have the right to decorate scary yes but why for 2 whole months? And being she bought a kid just tells me she is trying to scare someone. Everything else is gore, heads etc. As I said this stuff wont come down until at least mid November so I now have 2 months to probably keep the kids stay inside unless they can deal with it.

Thanks for the advise everyone!

[Snapdragon]

Sorry you are having to deal with this. Not much you can do really other than report to the police if the noise is going on as late as it is. If the daughter is someone who seems to want attention (even negative), then the best response is to try not to rise to the bait. I'm not a fan of Hallowe'en as it is celebrated now with all the gory stuff -- even my kids (9 and 12) find some of the things people put in their yards a bit too realistic and scary.

[Blackcat31]

Thanks for the replies everyone! The problem is my "back yard" is at my side directly across from this porch so when the kids play they see and hear the decor. If I can hear the doll inside my house with a movie playing then they will hear her when they are 15 ft away so that is my concern. Wouldnt even be so bad if it wasnt so life like with the head turning and feet kicking swinging etc I just dont get why she had to pick a demonic kid and hang it right out front facing us. She has a side she could hang it from.

I agree in not censoring and not really my place Miss Muffet but don't you agree its rude to not think of the little kids? Explaining, yes I do that but what does a 2 yr old understand in words when she sees the things in action? As I said I dont plan on saying anything because the teen runs that house and I just know she would enjoy the attention and just get more to put out. I guess I just wanted to come vent because I just cant believe some people dont think more about kids. They have the right to decorate scary yes but why for 2 whole months? And being she bought a kid just tells me she is trying to scare someone. Everything else is gore, heads etc. As I said this stuff wont come down until at least mid November so I now have 2 months to probably keep the kids stay inside unless they can deal with it.

Thanks for the advise everyone!

I disagree with this. I do not think it is rude to not think of the kids. Not everyone has kids and cares about kid-related things. I don't think everyone should have to always think of how things will effect kids when they don't have any little ones themselves.

I have my own personal feelings about this (and I am NOT saying I agree with the neighbors or with the OP) I just wanted to lend another perspective in which I know many adults who have no children and they have always made it clear to those of us who are friends with them and have children that they don't have them, don't want them and don't particularly care for them. That is ok. They are allowed to feel, think and act however they choose to.

That is their right to think and feel that way. Just because a daycare is in business next door doesn't necessarily mean a neighbor HAS to be considerate or caring about it....unless they are actually breaking a law. Which it doesn't sound like they are.

Imagine things from their side of the fence....you said you have to deal with the crazy decor until mid November and how annoying it is. They have to deal with daycare kids laughing, screaming and playing as well as parents coming and going all morning and all afternoon and they don't get a break from that a few months out of the year since you run a business that is in operation ALL the months of the year. Imagine what they feel they are having to deal with? Perhaps the crazy decor is their only way of getting back at you for what they feel you are exposing them to the rest of the year?

I have no idea and really have no clue how they are feeling etc, but just thought there is two sides to the story and it isn't always about the kids kwim?

I just don't think that everybody has an obligation to always have to "think of the kids" (they don't have or the ones who live nearby) when it comes to the choices they make or the things they choose to do.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'm kinda with Blackcat on this.....but also agree with calling the police if it goes on past 10pm. Like Dave said, it could be considered a disturbance and violation of noise ordinances. But.....it is a free country. My neighborhood is a deed restricted community, we can do decorations for holidays, but have to take them down within 2 weeks after the holiday or it is a violation. Do you live in a deed restricted development? Maybe you can ask them? If not, there may not be much you can do. It is totally creepy. And probably spiteful behavior, but unfortunately there are no laws against being a jerk. Maybe mom will understand if you talk nicely to her about it? If not.....oy.....maybe you can cross your fingers and hope someone steals it in the middle of the night. Sorry your poor son is scared, that is mean. Mean people (especially mean teenagers) ****.

[seebachers]

totally agree with blackcat on this one........

[PitterPatter]

I disagree with this. I do not think it is rude to not think of the kids. Not everyone has kids and cares about kid-related things. I don't think everyone should have to always think of how things will effect kids when they don't have any little ones themselves.

I have my own personal feelings about this (and I am NOT saying I agree with the neighbors or with the OP) I just wanted to lend another perspective in which I know many adults who have no children and they have always made it clear to those of us who are friends with them and have children that they don't have them, don't want them and don't particularly care for them. That is ok. They are allowed to feel, think and act however they choose to.

That is their right to think and feel that way. Just because a daycare is in business next door doesn't necessarily mean a neighbor HAS to be considerate or caring about it....unless they are actually breaking a law. Which it doesn't sound like they are.

Imagine things from their side of the fence....you said you have to deal with the crazy decor until mid November and how annoying it is. They have to deal with daycare kids laughing, screaming and playing as well as parents coming and going all morning and all afternoon and they don't get a break from that a few months out of the year since you run a business that is in operation ALL the months of the year. Imagine what they feel they are having to deal with? Perhaps the crazy decor is their only way of getting back at you for what they feel you are exposing them to the rest of the year?

I have no idea and really have no clue how they are feeling etc, but just thought there is two sides to the story and it isn't always about the kids kwim?

I just don't think that everybody has an obligation to always have to "think of the kids" (they don't have or the ones who live nearby) when it comes to the choices they make or the things they choose to do.

Point taken and as I said I agree they do have a right but as far as them putting up with the kids, I doubt they can even hear the kids over her constantly barking and yelping dog that she ties out to the porch all day, alone. We sit in here for crafts or nap etc and he just sits over there barking and yelping everyday. I'm surprised teh poor dog has a throat left. Other neighbors complain about that dog but never about the kids. The kids do get loud sometimes but not all the time. We have scheduled outdoor times not out all day. We take lots of walks away from the house and to the playground also. I know kids can get loud and I try to think of my neighbors so if the energized screaming starts thats when they go to the playground. As for drop off and pick up we dont have drop of and pick up all morning and afternoon. I only have a few kids. They arrive at 8 and go home at 5. No disturbance. Like I said I dont even think it's the Mom I think it's the arrogant teen. Maybe it isn't rude to not think of the kids but that's just how I think. I always go out of my way to please everyone as possible and kids come 1st in my heart. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Blackcat.

[Willow]

At 19 it most definitely is not the girl's property to do what she wishes with.

I would approach the actual owner of the home, the mother, and ask her if she would consider moving it to another location because it's really scaring the children.

She sounds like a kind and reasonable woman and it would be worth a shot.


If she declines, thank her for considering it anyway and know at least you tried. That way too if any kids start really freaking out over it you can also let the parents know you did your best.


Additionally I too would call law enforcement if the thing was going off at all hours of the night.

[BABYLUVER]

You can't do much about your neighbor's decorations if you're not in an HOA. I would definitely just explain to the children some things about Halloween. I know my kids are not scared of anything, and some kids like spooky things. YOU may be creeped out, but a 1yo may not really think anything of it. If you freak out, they will too. It's like you seeing a spider, screaming "OMG SPIDER KILL IT KILL IT" and then wondering why the kids who were never afraid of spiders before are screaming when they see one!

The barking dog? I'd report that to the humane society. First, there's nothing more annoying than a relentlessly barking dog and second, why do people even have pets if they can't/won't take care of them? Also, a neglected dog is a physical hazard to you and your kids, because there is evidence out there that shows that neglected animals can become aggressive. If he ever got out, he could easily bite. This would be the two reasons that would prompt me to call the humane society.

[SunnyDay]

Could you put privacy fence on that side of your yard so you can't see it? That is an awful situation, I would not be happy, either!

[Mommy2One]

A demonic looking LIFE SIZE little girl on a swing!! I tried not to pay much attention because thats what she likes but it looks very scary and the kids again made comments when they saw the doll head. They havent seen the doll up and in action yet as it didnt get put up until they left for the day but I am afraid it will scare them. To make it worse my family was sitting in the living room watching a movie when the dog dives to the window and starts barking. Then we hear it, singing. It's 10 pm who would be singing outside. We listen and it's a little girl singing a creepy kids tune like u would hear in a scary movie. We look out and that creepy little demon doll is now swinging all alone and singing! Then it says something creepy we cant make out from in our house across the street. Her head turns her feet kick and her eyes glow. Chills actually went through me and my son (10) freaked!!!

First, that sounds really scary! Somehow, for me, it's always the horror movies that feature the ghost/possessed/demon kids that really freak me out.

Is there any way you could "spin" it for your daycare kids? Aside from the glowing eyes, is she horrific (bloody)? "Look at the silly doll on the swing. Listen she sings a funny song, how about if we all sing Wheels on the Bus?" I've found with my 3yo my reaction has a lot more affect on her response than reality does.

Maybe make a game of it for your daycare kids, or even your son. For a little while thunder made my daughter nervous so I told her that meant it was kisses time and covered her in silly smooches every time it thundered. She actually started smiling when she hear thunder and would remind me it was kisses time. After a couple weeks she forgot about the game but thunder hasn't seemed to bother her since then.