11-13 year olds may be better equipped to navigate the scary movie scene on some level but each child is different. If your child watches something that they say is not scary to them but then starts coming to you at night wanting to sleep closer to you or is having nightmares let their behavior speak for them.
Exposure to scary movies in an age-appropriate fashion in which the child has control can be a healthy way for some kids to learn to navigate associated fears, Storch said. Also, a little bit of fear is healthy for children and adults alike.