Things.com: Why Did Our Parents Let Us Watch This? 15 Kids Shows That Messed Us Up For Life

[froodle]

Growing up I used to watch a lot of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network shows, and while I would never be allowed to watch reality TV or anything scandalous, when it came to kids shows, there was pretty much free reign, but should there have been?

As I child, I never thought twice about just how disturbing some of these shows actually were, stuff that looking back on as an adult, I’m left surprised I never had recurring nightmares. From creepy tales about monsters, ghosts, and ghouls, to shows about puppets that have been rumored to be similar to Chucky, these are just some of the weird things that should have had a higher age restriction. Below are 15 of these disturbing shows and their most memorable moments.

5. ‘Eerie, Indiana’ Only Lasted For A Season For Good Reason

Eerie, Indiana first aired in 1991 and ended in 1992, and perhaps that was because it was too creepy for kids. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, it follows the life of a teenager named Marshall Teller, who is forced to move to an almost abandoned town in Indiana. While in the town, Marshall soon discovers that there is something about this town that just doesn’t sit right, and a lot of strange things start to happen but no one seems to notice it (it reminds me a bit of an old-school version of Stranger Things).

Some of the creepiest things that happened on the show occurred in the episode “The Hole in the Head Gang,” in which Marshall and his friend Simon head to a presumed haunted mill to investigate and stumble upon a kid with grey hair referred to as Dash X. And then there is “The Dead Letter” episode which awakens a ghost. I feel the goosebumps on my arm just writing this!