A Halloween celebration at a Leisure Activities Center (CATL) in the Autonomous Region of the Azores has sparked a complaint by a parent. The event included a “haunted room” for children aged 4 to 8, which allegedly left them “in panic” and crying.
The complaint was filed on October 7 with the Azores Children’s Commission, which has now issued a series of recommendations for CATLs and schools in the archipelago regarding Halloween festivities.
The Commission, operating under the regional government, reported “alleged inappropriate practices” and “psychologically violent and potentially traumatic experiences for children, particularly the creation of a so-called ‘haunted room.’”
The Commission noted that the children were reportedly exposed to “a dark environment, disturbing sounds and lights, and physical interactions with masked adults, which allegedly cornered them, causing widespread panic and tears.”
According to Açoriano Oriental, some children were left “unable to sleep,” and several guardians departed the venue feeling “distressed.”
The complainant believed that the children’s rights were violated by those who permitted the celebration, a concern echoed by the Commission.
“Such practices raise serious concerns regarding the respect for children’s rights, as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, potentially endangering their emotional balance and psychological well-being,” the statement reads. This statement has been shared by several schools on social media and was accessed by Notícias ao Minuto.
The regional entity advises against the use of costumes and props and the staging of activities, particularly during Halloween, that deliberately induce fear, anxiety, and even panic among children through exposure to violent and potentially traumatic situations such as “haunted rooms” and similar experiences.
The Commission further appeals to the “common sense” and “pedagogical responsibility of monitors, educators, and other teachers” to engage in activities that respect children’s rights, suitable for their age group, development stage, personal characteristics, and, where applicable, special needs.
It emphasizes the importance of informing parents and guardians in advance “about the activities planned for Halloween festivities and obtaining their explicit written consent for the participation of their children and wards in these activities.”
Following the complaint, the regional entity suggests offering “awareness and training sessions for professionals on children’s rights and the impact of exposure to psychological violence on children” and recommends “regular supervision of activities conducted by CATLs, nurseries, kindergartens, and schools during Halloween by social security, municipalities, and education authorities.”
Notícias ao Minuto contacted the Azores Children’s Commission, which stated that it had nothing further to add to the previously issued statement.
