One thing that so often get underestimated about children from the age of 7-12 is how much they love freaking themselves out. R.L Stein’s body of work was sold to these little devils for a reason. 

I was just watching my cousin and her friend and they not only tried to convince me that a strange lady who lived on the playground was going to kidnap them, they successfully convinced themselves a strange lady who lived on the playground was going to kidnap them. I turned my back for a second and they tried to get me to believe one of them had disappeared and been replaced by an identical lookalike named McKenzie. It was all, “what did I see over the hill?” and “is there something in the playground tunnel?” until I gave up and took them back home where it wasn’t mildly grey and spooky looking. Creepypasta has nothing on what the average nine year old will cook up and try to sell you if given the slightest provocation.