Long ago, we used to scare our children into behaving, frighten them to keep them safe. Don’t go near the water or the Brook Horse will get you. Beware the witch that hunts the little ones lost in the woods. All over the world, people told tall tales to keep their kids in line.

Over time, the monsters faded away, relegated to the realm of folklore or some page of curiosities on Wikipedia. But there are still things our children do that could be put on ice with a little horrific whimsy.

Here t...