Dear Reverend,
My next-door neighbors decorate their front yard with skeletons for Halloween. Every year it seems like they add another one. I think it’s fabulous, but my 5-year-old son doesn’t. He’s not terrified, but when we go outside, he doesn’t like to look at them, and we have to hurry to get in the car or walk past the display. How can I help him realize they’re only silly decorations?
Mummy Dearest (woman, 36)
Dear Mummy Dearest,
I’m no childhood psychologist, but since your son doesn’t seem totally traumatized by the skeletons, it shouldn’t be too hard to nip his nervousness in the bud.
You can acknowledge that the decorations are meant to be scary but reinforce the fact that they are fake. The best way to prove that point is to get up close and personal with the creepy creatures.
Since your neighbors are obviously Halloween enthusiasts, I bet they’d be more than happy to have your son check out the display, especially if you let them know that you’re trying to help him overcome his fear. Do a daylight inspection on a bright, sunny morning when it’s easy to see that the spooky skeletons are nothing more than big, plastic toys.
I’m also a big fan of turning concern into comedy. You and your son could give the skeletons goofy names and make up stories about them. A 12-foot-tall skeleton loses his fear factor when you know his name is Archibald and he used to be an accountant.
Explain to your son that trying to scare people is just a Halloween tradition. Take him for a drive around town to show him other spooky displays. If he can see that it’s a common thing, he might better understand that it’s all in good fun.
While you’re out and about, you could bring him to a Halloween store to show him where the skeletons come from. If you want to take it a step further, ask if he might want to adopt one to put in your yard. He could dress it up in a costume or put it in a silly pose.
But be careful what you wish for. You may just wind up with a skeleton crew of your own.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in October 7 • 2026.
