{"id":7023,"date":"2013-10-23T21:27:41","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T19:27:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/responsive.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents\/?p=7023"},"modified":"2022-06-21T09:19:04","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T07:19:04","slug":"keeping-the-scariness-levels-low-for-halloween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/lifestyle\/culture\/keeping-the-scariness-levels-low-for-halloween\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping the scariness levels low for Halloween"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s that wonderfully scary time of the year, and for those of us who celebrate it we will be out in costume trick or treating our way to a complete sugar overdose! I love a dress-up party and I quite like a scary story around the campfire too, but I have to say I am very cautious when it comes to what my children are allowed to watch on TV.<\/span><\/p>\n

In our household that is putting it mildly, actually. We don\u2019t even have a TV. My kids can watch DVD\u2019s as chosen and approved by us, but they don\u2019t have access to MTV or Cartoon Network or Disney Channel or the news. I know a lot of people think we\u2019re a bit extreme, but understanding how the unconscious mind processes information, I feel quite justified.<\/p>\n

You see, our unconscious minds don\u2019t know the difference between fantasy and reality. Try it out for yourself \u2013 image yourself vividly in your kitchen \u2013 see the light coming through the window, notice which pictures are stuck on the fridge etc –\u00a0 and then open the fridge (in your mind) and feel the cool air on your face. Take out a lemon, slice it and place a piece in your mouth and bite into it.\u00a0 If you\u2019ve really taken part here, you\u2019ll notice your salivary glands kicking in and you may even get that little tweak in the back of your mouth that you get from sour experiences. Why? You didn\u2019t actually eat a lemon. No, there\u2019s no need. Your unconscious mind has processed the experience as if it is actually happening.<\/p>\n

And it does the same with scary movies (or any movies for that matter). If you are watching a film where someone is being chased by an axe murderer, your unconscious mind goes into fight or flight, your adrenaline kicks in and your whole body is reacting as if it was YOU being chased.<\/p>\n

Keep this in mind this Halloween when you want to bring out the scary movies. If your unconscious mind has experienced a negative emotion, it needs to process this \u2013 even if the experience was just in your imagination or on the silver screen. Do we really want our kids processing such intense experiences? I certainly don\u2019t want my kids to. We have enough stress is our regular lives, so let\u2019s keep our fun time fun!<\/p>\n

Happy Halloween!<\/p>\n

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