A Purdue University researcher says if you are thinking about letting your kids watch scary movies, you might want to wait a little bit longer. 

Glenn Sparks is a communications researcher at the school and he says the increasingly realistic effects in movies are having a lasting effect on your kids.  Sparks says older kids, who had their parents approval, were shown some intense programming.  Increased heart rate, lack of sleep, and other responses seemed to pop up in children who had been exposed to horror scenes. 

Sparks says you don't need to rule out scary films, but know your child, and make sure you show them something appropriate for their age and mind-set.