Childhood Fears

Warmer: a blast from the past

Briefly talk about the following things from your childhood

a friend

a teacher

a birthday

a toy

a pet

a place

a game

a cartoon

Now take a look at an old British castle

Now look at the same castle at night

Why do you think it might be lit up in green?

The Green Lady

Legends say she is the spirit of Alice de la Marche of Angouleme, France, niece of Henry II, and the disgraced lover of a knight named Gruffydd the Fair.

She died of a broken heart after he was hanged by her husband, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, who was lord of the castle.

Locals say that on moonlit nights she appears on the walls searching for her lost love. She is known as “the Green Lady”, perhaps because of the ivy that spills over the castle walls, or maybe she wears green because of her husband’s envy.

Do you know of any famous haunted places?

Does the backstory of Alice de la Marche make you want to visit the castle more or less?

Is the story an obvious marketing trick?

Scary locals

Fear can play a role in childhood growing up. Here are just SOME of the things we are afraid of as children:

the ghosts in the cemetery

dreams

photographs

the dark

being alone

creepy-looking dolls

Do you have any bright examples of scary things / characters from your local area in childhood?

Check out the Reddit stories about the Black Nun of Llangrannog below, a popular activities camp in Wales

"Llangrannog for me was 1997 and the story back then was she walks the halls searching for any kid out of bed after lights out. Kids going to the bathroom in teams like ghost busters."

"I went every year between 2000 and 2005. What a blast that place is. The first time I went the story was she would sneak in your room at night, hover above you while you slept and if you woke up she would tie your tongue in a knot so you couldn’t scream. Then came the stories about her stealing your eyes, biting off toes and haunting the halls for lone students!"

"Draw your curtains before nightfall because she waits for you outside the window after dark."

"Oh good grief that brought back memories. The bunk we had in our room had had someone carve “the black nun will get you” in it at some point. The story was if you saw her she’d kill you in your sleep. That bunk was cursed etc. Nobody really believed it but it was funny."

"When we went we were always told by other kids that if you had the haunted dorm there would be scratches on your walls and maybe even yourself and knocking at your door in the middle of the night! Luckily I never got the haunted dorm lol."

https://www.reddit.com/r/Wales/comments/xumh8g/my_son_is_going_to_llangrannog_what_is_your_story/

Were there any stories about notorious ghosts / demons / spirits when you were a child?

If so, what were some of the myths and legends about them?

Are ghost stories good for kids?

Yes! Ghost stories can be great for kids! They help spark imagination and curiosity about the unknown, which is a huge part of growing up. Kids get to explore fear in a safe environment, learning how to manage scary feelings without real danger. It’s also a way for them to develop problem-solving skills and resilience, as many ghost stories come with challenges or mysteries to figure out. Plus, ghost stories can even teach cultural history and folklore, making them not just fun, but educational too!

No, ghost stories aren’t always the best for children. For some kids, scary stories can be overwhelming and cause nightmares or anxiety. Younger children, in particular, may have a hard time separating fiction from reality, leading to fears that linger beyond storytime. Ghost stories can also trigger fear of the dark or being alone, which might create unnecessary stress in their daily lives. While some kids love the thrill, others might just not be ready for the spooky stuff yet.

Are you closer to team yes or team no?

Do you think fear generally had a positive or negative impact on your childhood?

"Many parents think it's fun to threaten their children with supernatural forces, not really appreciating the anxiety and potential trauma this can cause." To what extent do you agree?

"Kids today are far too soft. A bit of fear is good for a child - it helps to control their behaviour." To what extent do you agree?