Scary Stories for Kids?

Question

I work with children at an elementary school. My 3rd grade boys have been begging me to tell them more scary stories ever since I told them about the Asian urban legend of "Hide and Seek Alone". They're pretty mature kids and not too easily freaked out. I want to be able to tell them stories, but I also want to keep my job (aka, I don't want them going home and having nightmares and such). Are there any urban legends or mildly scary stories I can tell them that won't freak them out too much?

*I have already looked into the "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" series, but they tell me it's just not scary enough.

Answer 1

Hmmm..... Think think think think. Well I really don't remember other scary stories for children but these are all that I can think about.





The Japanese ghost story called "Snow Witch"

LINK: http://www.scaryforkids.com/snow-witch/



5 scary ghost stories:

- The Piggy back

- Hide and Seek

- The Hitchhiker

- The Clown Statue

- The Flying Dutchman

LINK: http://www.swide.com/art-culture/society/scary-ghost-stories-to-tell-kids-at-halloween/2013/10/26



There was also an old western horror story that talks about a Black Rider that is like a ghost, or a ghost town which was where the idea of the "Ghost Rider" originated from. I couldn't find any books about it except for info and research about it. Like these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weird_West



There are other popular horror stories like these for example:

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

"Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

"The Island of Doctor Moreau"



Well, that's about it.



They might be for children, but if they're not, then I'm sorry. :(



I'm only trying to help.



EDIT:

Goosebumps is also another example as well.

Answer 2

I agree that "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" are great choices. They sure scared me when I was little! lol But some other ones you could tell are The Hook, La Llorona, The Donkey Lady, and maybe even some stories from The Twilight Zone. Oh! You could also read them some Goosebumps. :3

Answer 3

The "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" are incredibly scary! Just read em first and pick a good one, some of those are really nightmare fuel.